NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-30Hardap officials squatting at green scheme
Luqman Cloete
FREE HOUSING ... The Hardap Irrigation Scheme houses in which some of the Hardap Regional Council officials are squatting.
SENIOR officials of the Hardap Regional Council are allegedly squatting in houses at the government’s experimental farm near Mariental which is meant for beneficiaries of the Hardap Green Scheme project, The Namibian has established.
Among those enjoying free accommodation are the Hardap Council’s planning directorate deputy director, Jan Johannes Herero, and the Hardap governor’s personal assistant Karl Christiaan.
Herero admitted that although he had stayed at the house, he had moved out about a month ago.
When asked whether he paid any rent for the time he stayed in the house, and who had given him permission to stay in the house, Herero replied: “Why are you asking these probing questions. I will not answer them, you must ask Christiaan.”
Attempts to get comment from Christiaan proved futile yesterday.
An investigation by The Namibian found that the five year lease agreements signed by 15 medium scale farmers and the agriculture ministry prohibits subletting and says only the green scheme beneficiaries should occupy the houses and use six hectares for an annual rent of N$18 000.
A reliable source indicated that the council officials were squatting in the houses because most beneficiaries of the project have left them vacant as they are now living in Windhoek.
Agriculture officials reported the squatting by the Hardap regional council officials to the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, Joseph Iita, during his recent official visit to the green scheme project.
Calling on the officials to investigate the alleged squatting, Iita remarked: “Are we afraid to evict them? The beneficiaries should live to the contractual agreement terms. It is very clear, depending on the level of breach of contract, the beneficiaries’ contracts may be terminated.”
Iita expressed satisfaction on the progress made, and said the farmers are producing despite some challenges.
“As long as they are succeeding, the green scheme is green, and there will be more irrigation projects, especially in Karas region,” Iita remarked.
The Namibian also understands that the service provider Johan Kirsten who had provided services to the Hardap Green Scheme beneficiaries pulled out from the project in December last year after some of beneficiaries had allegedly failed to pay him for services rendered.
Among those beneficiaries who apparently had defaulted are Ghenno Himarwa, lawyer Gerson Hinda, Dalton Ashikoto and Daweb Investments owned by the late Isak Gowaseb and George Eiseb.
A source said Kirsten contemplates taking legal action against the defaulters to recover about N$400 000 they owe him.
Kirsten acknowledged his withdrawal from the project, but refused to go into details.
According to the agreement the green scheme project beneficiaries had entered with agriculture ministry, the beneficiaries were responsible to pay for the services rendered to them by the service provider, The Namibian was told.
Hinda denied that he owed Kirsten money. “It’s not true. In fact, we are not happy with improper services he rendered. We did not receive a cent from our produce earnings,” said Hinda.
luqman@namibian.com.na
Herero admitted that although he had stayed at the house, he had moved out about a month ago.
When asked whether he paid any rent for the time he stayed in the house, and who had given him permission to stay in the house, Herero replied: “Why are you asking these probing questions. I will not answer them, you must ask Christiaan.”
Attempts to get comment from Christiaan proved futile yesterday.
An investigation by The Namibian found that the five year lease agreements signed by 15 medium scale farmers and the agriculture ministry prohibits subletting and says only the green scheme beneficiaries should occupy the houses and use six hectares for an annual rent of N$18 000.
A reliable source indicated that the council officials were squatting in the houses because most beneficiaries of the project have left them vacant as they are now living in Windhoek.
Agriculture officials reported the squatting by the Hardap regional council officials to the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, Joseph Iita, during his recent official visit to the green scheme project.
Calling on the officials to investigate the alleged squatting, Iita remarked: “Are we afraid to evict them? The beneficiaries should live to the contractual agreement terms. It is very clear, depending on the level of breach of contract, the beneficiaries’ contracts may be terminated.”
Iita expressed satisfaction on the progress made, and said the farmers are producing despite some challenges.
“As long as they are succeeding, the green scheme is green, and there will be more irrigation projects, especially in Karas region,” Iita remarked.
The Namibian also understands that the service provider Johan Kirsten who had provided services to the Hardap Green Scheme beneficiaries pulled out from the project in December last year after some of beneficiaries had allegedly failed to pay him for services rendered.
Among those beneficiaries who apparently had defaulted are Ghenno Himarwa, lawyer Gerson Hinda, Dalton Ashikoto and Daweb Investments owned by the late Isak Gowaseb and George Eiseb.
A source said Kirsten contemplates taking legal action against the defaulters to recover about N$400 000 they owe him.
Kirsten acknowledged his withdrawal from the project, but refused to go into details.
According to the agreement the green scheme project beneficiaries had entered with agriculture ministry, the beneficiaries were responsible to pay for the services rendered to them by the service provider, The Namibian was told.
Hinda denied that he owed Kirsten money. “It’s not true. In fact, we are not happy with improper services he rendered. We did not receive a cent from our produce earnings,” said Hinda.
luqman@namibian.com.na
