Hou's trucks still moving timber
A truck belonging to Chinese national Xuecheng Hou's New Force Logistics CC was spotted transporting a heavy load of timber yesterday, a day after transport and export permits for timber expired.
The truck was seen passing through Otjiwarongo around 13:00 yesterday.
When alerted, the director of forestry in the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry, Joseph Hailwa, confirmed that it would be illegal to continue transporting timber. He undertook to send a ministerial team to where the truck was seen.
“We have to find out which trucks are still moving timber,” Hailwa initially said of the matter.
Hailwa later phoned back to say that the truck was one of four trucks belonging to New Force Logistics that had passed through the Mururani Gate on Sunday, 31 March, before the expiry of the transport and export permits.
Hailwa said forestry officials at Grootfontein, Mururani Gate and Rooidag Gate had confirmed reports that all four trucks belonging to New Force Logistics had experienced breakdowns after passing through the Mururani Gate.
However, Hailwa said because the trucks had passed the Mururani Gate before the embargo, they were allowed to proceed to Walvis Bay.
“At this point only those four trucks may be on the road,” Hailwa said, but added that a decision still had to be made whether trucks transporting timber from Angola, Zambia and the DRC should be subject to the transport/export embargo.
The spokesperson for the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said on WhatsApp yesterday afternoon that he believed the agriculture ministry was well aware of the movement of the timber.
“We all agree that this situation is not good for the future of forests and ultimately the environment. It's unfortunate we can't stop it in an instant but there are ongoing efforts to stop tree logging. We are engaging relevant authorities in this regard as a matter of urgency,” Muyunda said.
By yesterday afternoon the customs and excise office at Walvis Bay could not be contacted to establish how many trucks carrying timber tried to make a last dash for it.
Hou did not respond to questions sent to him yesterday. It is understood that he was arrested at his shop in Windhoek's Chinatown on Friday and was detained in the holding cells at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
From what could be established, he was arrested with four other Chinese nationals, but it is not clear what charges were brought against him and the others. A source said Hou was released on bail of N$30 000.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The truck was seen passing through Otjiwarongo around 13:00 yesterday.
When alerted, the director of forestry in the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry, Joseph Hailwa, confirmed that it would be illegal to continue transporting timber. He undertook to send a ministerial team to where the truck was seen.
“We have to find out which trucks are still moving timber,” Hailwa initially said of the matter.
Hailwa later phoned back to say that the truck was one of four trucks belonging to New Force Logistics that had passed through the Mururani Gate on Sunday, 31 March, before the expiry of the transport and export permits.
Hailwa said forestry officials at Grootfontein, Mururani Gate and Rooidag Gate had confirmed reports that all four trucks belonging to New Force Logistics had experienced breakdowns after passing through the Mururani Gate.
However, Hailwa said because the trucks had passed the Mururani Gate before the embargo, they were allowed to proceed to Walvis Bay.
“At this point only those four trucks may be on the road,” Hailwa said, but added that a decision still had to be made whether trucks transporting timber from Angola, Zambia and the DRC should be subject to the transport/export embargo.
The spokesperson for the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said on WhatsApp yesterday afternoon that he believed the agriculture ministry was well aware of the movement of the timber.
“We all agree that this situation is not good for the future of forests and ultimately the environment. It's unfortunate we can't stop it in an instant but there are ongoing efforts to stop tree logging. We are engaging relevant authorities in this regard as a matter of urgency,” Muyunda said.
By yesterday afternoon the customs and excise office at Walvis Bay could not be contacted to establish how many trucks carrying timber tried to make a last dash for it.
Hou did not respond to questions sent to him yesterday. It is understood that he was arrested at his shop in Windhoek's Chinatown on Friday and was detained in the holding cells at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
From what could be established, he was arrested with four other Chinese nationals, but it is not clear what charges were brought against him and the others. A source said Hou was released on bail of N$30 000.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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