Army buys luxury lodge

The defence ministry has spent N$45 million on buying a luxury lodge that will be converted into a military base for the training of specialist troops.

Oropoko Lodge situated near Okahandja was bought about four months ago from Kurt Steinhausen, who is a close friend of former President Sam Nujoma.

Steinhausen was one of Namibia's first foreign private investors, who developed the luxury lodge shortly after independence.

The spokesperson at the defence ministry, Major Petrus Shilumbu, yesterday confirmed that the selling price of the farm had been negotiated down from N$69 million to N$45 million. The lodge, located about 130km from Windhoek, was constructed in 1993 on 11 000 hectares of land.

Shilumbu said the transfer of the property was completed on 25 September last year, adding that it would house an army unit that did not have a base at the moment.

But according to Major-General Ben Kadhila, the chief of staff for joint operations, more than one unit will be housed there.

“Multiple specialists will be trained at the base,” he said. Kadhila said for security reasons he could not divulge how many units or soldiers would be based at Oropoko.

Namibia has seven military bases, each housing between 700 and 1 000 soldiers. Kadhila further confirmed that the “multiple specialists” would be trained for anti-poaching interventions.

“This will, however, only be one area of training for the troops,” he said.

He said soldiers would be billeted in the former lodge's rooms, and the restaurant would be used as a kitchen and staff canteen.

“These are all added advantages, while the wild animals on the farm will help in the anti-poaching training.”

According to Shilumbu the farm is strategically located as it is near the capital. It has a helipad and an airfield, which the army intends to transform into a military airport.

Furthermore, the farm has an Olympic-standard shooting range that will be used as a training area.

Shilumbu said Oropoko has a well-developed laundry, conference centre, kitchens, accommodation as well as mechanical workshop where the troops can maintain NDF vehicles without travelling to town for repairs.

“On top of that, there is a well-developed and independent water infrastructure that will, in the long run, offset costs and besides being connected to the national electricity grid it has a local electricity generation system,” said Shilumbu.

The farm is home to several wildlife species. “The NDF is also trying to teach its members to live together with wildlife, protect them and avoid killing them for the pot,” Shilumbu said.

He said although the price of the farm might sound high, the benefits outweighed the costs.

“One of the NDF's peacetime roles is the protection of the environment including our animals, hence the need to train troops to live in harmony with wild animals,” said Shilumbu.

According to Kadhila negotiations for buying the farm started about five years ago and the purchase was budgeted for in the NDF's long-term budget for capital projects.

In September last year, finance minister Calle Schlettwein made N$100 million available to the NDF during the mid-term budget review.

At the time Schlettwein said the money was needed for “long-term commitments”.

Last month, thousands of army personnel staying at the seven bases around the country were forced to take leave with effect from this month.

Those who were already on leave were asked not to report for duty since the army could no longer afford to feed them and pay the water and electricity bills.

The defence ministry was allocated N$5.6 billion of the national budget for the 2017/18 financial year.

Oropoko Lodge consists of 30 luxurious rooms and three suites that are spread over nine bungalows. All have their own bathroom and shower, toilet, air-conditioning, minibar, safe and telephone.

In addition, there is a conference room for 60 participants, a small library, a swimming pool and a restaurant with sun terrace.

Wildlife on the farm include kudu, gemsbok, waterbuck, eland, giraffe, leopard, mountain and plains zebra, ostrich, blesbok, hartebeest, warthog and springbok.

ELLANIE SMIT