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06:43Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-30
Hardap 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
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