Ministry reverses transfer of Kanepolo’s 1 247 cattle

The agriculture ministry ordered the reversal of the transfer of 1 247 cattle belonging to the estate of the late businessman and liberation struggle veteran Simon ‘Kanepolo’ Mulunga after his children questioned the change of ownership.The intervention followed a letter dated 10 December 2023 from Ausiku Attorneys, representing Mulunga’s son Tangeni and 13 others, who raised concerns that Mesag Mulunga, then executor of the estate, was transferring their father’s cattle into his own name.Responding to lawyer Tangeni Ausiku in a letter dated 19 February 2024, former agriculture executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said an investigation by the Directorate of Veterinary Services had established that the transfer was processed without a liquidation and distribution account from the Master of the High Court.“The application for change of ownership of registered cattle was done on 9 August 2022 at the Meat Board Office, and it was found that 1 247 livestock were transferred on the same 9 August 2022."The documents presented together with the application to the Meat Board were incomplete, as the liquidation and distribution account from the Masters of the High Court was not submitted with the application,” Nghituwamata wrote.The missing document sets out how an estate’s assets are to be distributed among beneficiaries.Following the investigation, the ministry ordered the transfer to stock brand Z000170D reversed, froze activities under the brand and restricted livestock movements pending instructions from the Master of the High Court.“It should be noted that 1 247 cattle may not be a true reflection of the live cattle on the establishment, as verification at the farm level was not done, and thus there is a need to reconcile such information at the farm level,” the letter reads.The ministry attributed possible discrepancies to cattle deaths or sales not reconciled in the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System.“The Meat Board did the transfer according to the information presented to them,” Nghituwamata said.Children challenge transferIn their earlier complaint, Mulunga’s children accused Mesag of attempting to transfer the livestock before the estate had been distributed.“We hold instructions that the current executor of the abovementioned estate, Mr. Mesag Mulunga, is prematurely attempting to effect a change of ownership of the livestock of the late into his name,” Ausiku wrote.“We are therefore instructed to request that your good office discontinue or stay any process relating to the change of ownership of livestock belonging to the abovementioned deceased person, as such assets are to be administered as part of the estate of the late Mr. Simon Mulunga,” he added.Ausiku argued that the transfer could prejudice other beneficiaries.Contacted for comment, Mesag declined to discuss the matter.“I do not want to speak about this. I told you already last week that I don't want to speak about this matter,” he said.The cattle form part of Mulunga’s estate, which includes a 10 000-hectare cattle post at Onalusheeshete in the Oshikoto region, properties and vehicles.Mulunga died on 7 September 2021, aged 74.His estate is also the subject of a High Court dispute over a will dated 13 March 2020, which allocates Mesag several properties and 75% of the cash and investment balance.His 14 siblings and Mulunga’s widow, Alina Mbumbi, challenge the will’s authenticity, with some alleging that their father’s signature may have been forged.Mesag maintains that the will reflects his father’s wishes, although the Master of the High Court rejected it over concerns about its execution under the Wills Act 7 of 1953.

Ministry reverses transfer of Kanepolo’s 1 247 cattle

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-22

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Ministry reverses transfer of Kanepolo’s 1 247 cattle

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-22

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