More dark clouds gather over Armas’s tobacco project

The secretary-general of the Zambezi Region-based Mafwe Youth Forum, Sibuku Malumbano, says the group had never formally met to discuss support for a controversial N$1 billion Chinese tobacco project in which Swapo Oshikoto regional co-ordinator Armas Amukwiyu is a shareholder. Malumbano in fact said that due to a number of factors, including health and other community concerns, they were in not in favour of the project. This follows the youth forum’s chairman Linus Matongo announcing their public support for the project during a recent community meeting. “The youth forum’s executive committee never met, discussed or took any resolution on the tobacco plantation project,” Malumbano told Namibian Sun. “It is unfortunate that the chairperson used the forum’s name as a billboard to advance his personal interests and garner youth support for the widely disputed project.” Malumbano stressed that Matongo’s views were “personal” and did not reflect those of the forum. According to him, the forum is cautious and conscious of the harm tobacco may cause, despite claims of employment opportunities. “We are not informed of health and reward assurances of the project, but we believe that workers and the community’s health are more important than peanuts.” He added it is their belief the environmental impacts may be more costly and greater than the anticipated benefits to the community. “It is obvious that the project will by a bigger margin benefit foreigners than local people. We are not sure of what will happen if the project fails a few years later, after uprooting many trees and degrading the land.” Malumbano said people have the right to seek assurances. The forum, he added, is not aware or sure of the minimum wages that will paid and other benefits, but added that people need “healthy and well-paid jobs”. “It is against this background that the forum is not in support of this project.” However, he added that the forum will support any project that would not only produce food, but also have minimal community health risks and environmental impacts. Malumbano said this provided that what is produced is also processed into finished products locally. “Moreover, 10 000 hectares is too much. We are not too primitive to allow other people or countries to prosper by exploiting our health and natural environment.” While claiming the youth forum supported the initiative, Matongo was quoted as saying the management of Namibia Oriental Tobacco CC should look into compensating Liselo villagers, whose crops will be affected by the tobacco and vegetable project. He reportedly added that should the project be implemented, half of the 3 000 expected jobs must be reserved for residents from Liselo, Kasheshe and nearby areas. Health and Social Services Minister, Bernard Haufiku, last week condemned the planned tobacco plantation, describing it as a “chemical weapons” project. Haufiku further urged residents of the region to choose health above toxins. Amukwiyu said during a previous interview they could move their project to another African country, should they be denied land in the Zambezi Region. Amukwiyu said at the time there has been strong speculation that the Namibian authorities would deny permission for the initiative. He and his Chinese business partners have targeted virgin land in the Zambezi Region, while China is the main export destination for the tobacco. WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA