O & L Group donates farm to former workers

A GROUP of 26 retrenched farmworkers has received ownership of a commercial farm from their former employer to enable them to build a sustainable future in agriculture.

The Ohlthaver & List Group gave the 3 200-hectare farm Okandjira, northeast of Okahandja, to the workers and their families. The workers became redundant when all farming activities on the nearby Midgard farm were halted two years ago.It is the first time that a company has donated an entire farm to its former workers.Okandjira borders on Ovitoto, a communal farming enclave, where mainly Herero-speaking people live.Speaking at the handover ceremony at Midgard on Friday, O & L Executive Chairman Sven Thieme said farming at Midgard was making losses, which resulted in a restructuring leading to the retrenchment of 30 farm labourers.He said this was a painful experience, since about 30 of over 100 workers retrenched had no other home than Midgard.Many of them had worked there for 20 and even 30 years.The workers were given the choice of either a cash retrenchment package or farmland.”A group of 26 employees opted for land and negotiations began.It was not always easy, but we reached the goal: ownership of neighbouring Okandjira farm of 3 200 hectares.The Ministry of Lands was involved in every step and was extremely helpful,” Thieme added.”The Ministry provided the necessary waiver and the farm is now owned by the Okandjira Mekondjo Trust with all former employees as members.”The former employees were helped to move their households and livestock to Okandjira.A business plan was developed to ensure the self-sufficiency of the new landowners.They received building materials, a truck and a brick-making machine.”We went the extra mile to accommodate each family and to ensure smooth translocation,” Thieme said.Deputy Lands Minister Isak Katali said the regional resettlement committee of the Otjozondjupa Region was involved during the process, as were Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto and the Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu).”Today you are receiving the ownership certificate and title deed – a milestone achievement in the land reform process,” Katali stated.”Government is very appreciative of O & L for this initiative.You now have a home and I trust you ensure sustainability and retain productivity on Okandjira.The foundation is laid for you,” Katali told the beneficiaries.”You can shape your own future and that of your children and grandchildren.”Katali called on other role players in agriculture to follow the example of O & L.The Regional Councillor of the Omatako Constituency, Isaskar Kaujeua, urged O & L to continue supplying the new owners of Okandjira with water and to build dams for them.”Commercial farmers who own more than two farms should also follow the example of Ohlthaver & List and not dump them [workers] on the road like at Otjiku farm,” Kaujeua added.A black farmer bought Otjiku a few years ago, but he did not want to take over the labourers of the previous owner and forced them to leave.They are still camping in the corridor between the farm fence and a road, despite a Government eviction policy that prohibits the eviction of farm labourers.Nafwu General Secretary Alfred Angula chairs the Okandjira Mekondjo board of trustees, which has six members – three women and three men.Angula on Friday said that a good solution was achieved after long negotiations for the 26 former farm workers.”I congratulate O & L; we might not always agree on all issues, but it is moving to witness people given land in Namibia.”Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto said the former farmworkers had initially been afraid to become neighbours of the Ovitoto community.”You don’t have to fear anything, we will live as good neighbours,” he assured the group, who were also present at the ceremony.Kapuuo reminded the gathering that the previous Managing Director of O & L, the later Werner List, had donated six farms to the Government shortly after Independence – the first Namibian businessman to take such a step.”Actually Mr List made a mistake, Government settled other people there, not us.We from Ovitoto did not benefit,” Kapuuo added, hinting that he would have liked his community to receive a farm too.Okandjira was a battlefield back in April 1904, when Herero soldiers won a battle there against German imperial troops during the uprising against colonialism.The workers became redundant when all farming activities on the nearby Midgard farm were halted two years ago.It is the first time that a company has donated an entire farm to its former workers.Okandjira borders on Ovitoto, a communal farming enclave, where mainly Herero-speaking people live.Speaking at the handover ceremony at Midgard on Friday, O & L Executive Chairman Sven Thieme said farming at Midgard was making losses, which resulted in a restructuring leading to the retrenchment of 30 farm labourers.He said this was a painful experience, since about 30 of over 100 workers retrenched had no other home than Midgard.Many of them had worked there for 20 and even 30 years. The workers were given the choice of either a cash retrenchment package or farmland.”A group of 26 employees opted for land and negotiations began.It was not always easy, but we reached the goal: ownership of neighbouring Okandjira farm of 3 200 hectares.The Ministry of Lands was involved in every step and was extremely helpful,” Thieme added.”The Ministry provided the necessary waiver and the farm is now owned by the Okandjira Mekondjo Trust with all former employees as members.”The former employees were helped to move their households and livestock to Okandjira.A business plan was developed to ensure the self-sufficiency of the new landowners.They received building materials, a truck and a brick-making machine.”We went the extra mile to accommodate each family and to ensure smooth translocation,” Thieme said.Deputy Lands Minister Isak Katali said the regional resettlement committee of the Otjozondjupa Region was involved during the process, as were Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto and the Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu).”Today you are receiving the ownership certificate and title deed – a milestone achievement in the land reform process,” Katali stated.”Government is very appreciative of O & L for this initiative.You now have a home and I trust you ensure sustainability and retain productivity on Okandjira.The foundation is laid for you,” Katali told the beneficiaries.”You can shape your own future and that of your children and grandchildren.”Katali called on other role players in agriculture to follow the example of O & L.The Regional Councillor of the Omatako Constituency, Isaskar Kaujeua, urged O & L to continue supplying the new owners of Okandjira with water and to build dams for them.”Commercial farmers who own more than two farms should also follow the example of Ohlthaver & List and not dump them [workers] on the road like at Otjiku farm,” Kaujeua added.A black farmer bought Otjiku a few years ago, but he did not want to take over the labourers of the previous owner and forced them to leave.They are still camping in the corridor between the farm fence and a road, despite a Government eviction policy that prohibits the eviction of farm labourers.Nafwu General Secretary Alfred Angula chairs the Okandjira Mekondjo board of trustees, which has six members – three women and three men.Angula on Friday said that a good solution was achieved after long negotiations for the 26 former farm workers.”I congratulate O & L; we might not always agree on all issues, but it is moving to witness people given land in Namibia.”Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto said the former farmworkers had initially been afraid to become neighbours of the Ovitoto community.”You don’t have to fear anything, we will live as good neighbours,” he assured the group, who were also present at the ceremony.Kapuuo reminded the gathering that the previous Managing Director of O & L, the later Werner List, had donated six farms to the Government shortly after Independence – the first Namibian businessman to take such a step.”Actually Mr List made a mistake, Governme
nt settled other people there, not us.We from Ovitoto did not benefit,” Kapuuo added, hinting that he would have liked his community to receive a farm too.Okandjira was a battlefield back in April 1904, when Herero soldiers won a battle there against German imperial troops during the uprising against colonialism.