Ongombo West owner willing to give up farm

HILDE Wiese, owner of Ongombo West, has informed the Government that she was willing to part with her land after the Ministry of Lands showed interest in her farm.

Andreas Wiese, son of the Hilde, informed The Namibian that his mother had replied to a Ministry of Lands letter that informed them that the Government was interested in buying the farm for its resettlement programme through expropriation. He said his mother gave an indication that she was willing to listen to the Government’s offer and that the ball was now in the court of the State.Once Government receives such a reply, it must send out valuators to determine the price of the farm.Wiese said they had not yet reached that stage.Ongombo West is one of around 15 farms that the Government has identified and served with expropriation notices.The Wiese family used it to produce and export flowers to Europe but the situation turned ugly last year when a labour dispute between Andreas and four staff members resulted in a court case and the eventual eviction of farm workers.The workers stayed away for months and were later dismissed.After their dismissal, Wiese got a court order to evict them and the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union moved in and fought the dismissal until the labour court ruled that it had been unprocedural and demanded that Wiese re-employ the workers.He said his mother gave an indication that she was willing to listen to the Government’s offer and that the ball was now in the court of the State.Once Government receives such a reply, it must send out valuators to determine the price of the farm.Wiese said they had not yet reached that stage.Ongombo West is one of around 15 farms that the Government has identified and served with expropriation notices.The Wiese family used it to produce and export flowers to Europe but the situation turned ugly last year when a labour dispute between Andreas and four staff members resulted in a court case and the eventual eviction of farm workers.The workers stayed away for months and were later dismissed.After their dismissal, Wiese got a court order to evict them and the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union moved in and fought the dismissal until the labour court ruled that it had been unprocedural and demanded that Wiese re-employ the workers.