AA farmers share their plight
The official opposition is calling on Agribank and government to review the repayment schemes and conditions of affirmative action farmers, in order to address the difficulties they face.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani says the financial models under which affirmative action (AA) farmers are struggling to shoulder debts needs urgent revision, and will form part of his party's agenda at the upcoming second national land conference.
He said the party is calling on Agribank and government to review the repayment schemes and conditions faced by AA farmers, in order to address their plight.
Venaani stressed that the “issue is beyond farmers and Agribank”. “It is a national issue,” he said.
At a brief meeting with Venaani last week, concerned AA farmers said they have played a vital role in land reform.
“When you look at the figure of hectares of land that changed hands from white to black farmers, the land bought by the affirmative farmers is more than what government has got.
“So we are contributing to the land reform programme but unfortunately we are not considered in the land reform budget,” fulltime farmer Kaveri Kavari told Venaani.
Recent land statistics show that out of 882 farms acquired through Agribank since 1992, farms sold through the affirmative action loan scheme (AALS) covered more than 3 407 368 million hectares, more than half of the total amount of hectares, 6 261 090, sold by the bank.
A total of 648 lenders were provided money through the AALS since 1992.
Since independence, government acquired 3 021 959 hectares of land for resettlement purposes, a total of 443 farms.
Standing alone
Bonny Handura, a part-time farmer and AALS customer, said a big misconception is that the farmers are not willing to repay their debt.
“We are by no means saying we don't want to pay. There is willingness to pay, but what we are saying that the business model of Agribank needs to change. We need to collectively come to the table and ask how to restructure the financial model that is sustainable over a longer time.”
Handura said the bank's outsourcing to debt collectors has further severely compounded debt and increased the burden on affirmative action farmers.
Blacky Tjingaete told Venaani that affirmative action farmers are further calling on Agribank to de-list farmers who have been blacklisted, as this has pushed them into an even worse financial position.
Handura said previous talks with government, including State House and Agribank, have fallen on deaf ears, despite the role they have played in land reform.
“Affirmative action farmers have contributed to the land reform process. These are black farmers that reached into their pockets to actually acquire farms, where a guarantee was provided by government. But now that we are not in a position to pay, that guarantee is not kicking in.”
He said the affirmative farmers have been left “to fight their own fight”.
Moreover, Handura criticised the fact that affirmative farmers have been denied a platform at the land conference, despite their relevant role.
“We are treated completely differently; we have taken money as black people to buy our own land that our forefathers used to own to actually start operating there. Government has turned a deaf ear and is not listening to us.”
He said 40% of the Agribank balance sheet is for affirmative action farms.
“It's a big portion of the bank's loan book that sits with us, but we are not getting a voice with Agribank and the minister of finance to actually address the matter. For us it is very disheartening that we took money out of our own pockets to actually help our own government to address the land reform issue.”
Unfair
Venaani said a major issue for affirmative action farmers is that they are expected to make repayments on the same level as commercial farmers.
He said it's time to find a “win-win solution between Agribank and the farmers”.
He said the unfair treatment of affirmative action farmers is especially glaring compared to some resettlement farm beneficiaries, who he claimed include senior and top-earning Namibians including judges and at least one minister.
“The highest paid people are resettled for free but those farmers who chose the route to own the property, if they are saying they have a problem, we don't listen to them. We are not listening to them. So I think the land conference should reflect on this.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
He said the party is calling on Agribank and government to review the repayment schemes and conditions faced by AA farmers, in order to address their plight.
Venaani stressed that the “issue is beyond farmers and Agribank”. “It is a national issue,” he said.
At a brief meeting with Venaani last week, concerned AA farmers said they have played a vital role in land reform.
“When you look at the figure of hectares of land that changed hands from white to black farmers, the land bought by the affirmative farmers is more than what government has got.
“So we are contributing to the land reform programme but unfortunately we are not considered in the land reform budget,” fulltime farmer Kaveri Kavari told Venaani.
Recent land statistics show that out of 882 farms acquired through Agribank since 1992, farms sold through the affirmative action loan scheme (AALS) covered more than 3 407 368 million hectares, more than half of the total amount of hectares, 6 261 090, sold by the bank.
A total of 648 lenders were provided money through the AALS since 1992.
Since independence, government acquired 3 021 959 hectares of land for resettlement purposes, a total of 443 farms.
Standing alone
Bonny Handura, a part-time farmer and AALS customer, said a big misconception is that the farmers are not willing to repay their debt.
“We are by no means saying we don't want to pay. There is willingness to pay, but what we are saying that the business model of Agribank needs to change. We need to collectively come to the table and ask how to restructure the financial model that is sustainable over a longer time.”
Handura said the bank's outsourcing to debt collectors has further severely compounded debt and increased the burden on affirmative action farmers.
Blacky Tjingaete told Venaani that affirmative action farmers are further calling on Agribank to de-list farmers who have been blacklisted, as this has pushed them into an even worse financial position.
Handura said previous talks with government, including State House and Agribank, have fallen on deaf ears, despite the role they have played in land reform.
“Affirmative action farmers have contributed to the land reform process. These are black farmers that reached into their pockets to actually acquire farms, where a guarantee was provided by government. But now that we are not in a position to pay, that guarantee is not kicking in.”
He said the affirmative farmers have been left “to fight their own fight”.
Moreover, Handura criticised the fact that affirmative farmers have been denied a platform at the land conference, despite their relevant role.
“We are treated completely differently; we have taken money as black people to buy our own land that our forefathers used to own to actually start operating there. Government has turned a deaf ear and is not listening to us.”
He said 40% of the Agribank balance sheet is for affirmative action farms.
“It's a big portion of the bank's loan book that sits with us, but we are not getting a voice with Agribank and the minister of finance to actually address the matter. For us it is very disheartening that we took money out of our own pockets to actually help our own government to address the land reform issue.”
Unfair
Venaani said a major issue for affirmative action farmers is that they are expected to make repayments on the same level as commercial farmers.
He said it's time to find a “win-win solution between Agribank and the farmers”.
He said the unfair treatment of affirmative action farmers is especially glaring compared to some resettlement farm beneficiaries, who he claimed include senior and top-earning Namibians including judges and at least one minister.
“The highest paid people are resettled for free but those farmers who chose the route to own the property, if they are saying they have a problem, we don't listen to them. We are not listening to them. So I think the land conference should reflect on this.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
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