Provisional Valuation Roll for commercial farms compiled

THE Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Hifikepunye Pohamba, yesterday launched the first ever Provisional Valuation Roll for commercial agricultural farms in Namibia.

Pohamba, speaking at Oshakati, said there were 12,475 commercial farmers in Namibia and 90 per cent of them had already registered their farms in this new move. He said the remaining 10 per cent who had not done so should co-operate and register their farms as soon as possible.The Provisional Valuation Roll contains the name of the farm, the owner and the taxable value of the property.The taxable value is based on the land in its natural state, without the improvements thereon.The commercial farmers have been given 21 days, starting yesterday, to inspect the valuation roll and check if they agree with the marked value of their farms.If not, the farmers can lodge an objection with the Ministry in writing.”I want to inform you that this exercise has yielded encouraging results and I am pleased to report to the Namibian nation that about 90 per cent of the forms were received and verified, said Pohamba.He said 77 per cent of the farmers in Kunene Region (classified as the A Division), had already registered their properties.In Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa (B,D and J Division), 88,86 per cent of the farmers had registered, while in the Erongo Region (C,G and H Division), 83,77 per cent had done so.In the Khomas Region (K and M Division), 83,02 per cent of the farmers had registered, Hardap (P,R and N Division) 92,61 per cent, while in the Omaheke (L Division), 90,9 per cent of the farmers had registered their properties.In Karas, (S,T and V Division), 88,83 per cent of the farmers had registered themselves.Farmers in the Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati, and Oshikoto regions can inspect the valuation roll at Oshakati, while those from Kavango and Caprivi regions can do so at Rundu.The Provisional Valuation Roll can also be inspected at various offices of the Lands Ministry countrywide.Pohamba said his Ministry had been tasked by the Government to implement Land Tax on all commercial agricultural land in the country.The money collected from Land Tax will be deposited into a fund to be used to acquire land to resettle the previously disadvantaged Namibians as well as to develop and improve commercial agricultural land.He said the remaining 10 per cent who had not done so should co-operate and register their farms as soon as possible.The Provisional Valuation Roll contains the name of the farm, the owner and the taxable value of the property.The taxable value is based on the land in its natural state, without the improvements thereon.The commercial farmers have been given 21 days, starting yesterday, to inspect the valuation roll and check if they agree with the marked value of their farms.If not, the farmers can lodge an objection with the Ministry in writing.”I want to inform you that this exercise has yielded encouraging results and I am pleased to report to the Namibian nation that about 90 per cent of the forms were received and verified, said Pohamba.He said 77 per cent of the farmers in Kunene Region (classified as the A Division), had already registered their properties.In Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa (B,D and J Division), 88,86 per cent of the farmers had registered, while in the Erongo Region (C,G and H Division), 83,77 per cent had done so.In the Khomas Region (K and M Division), 83,02 per cent of the farmers had registered, Hardap (P,R and N Division) 92,61 per cent, while in the Omaheke (L Division), 90,9 per cent of the farmers had registered their properties.In Karas, (S,T and V Division), 88,83 per cent of the farmers had registered themselves.Farmers in the Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati, and Oshikoto regions can inspect the valuation roll at Oshakati, while those from Kavango and Caprivi regions can do so at Rundu.The Provisional Valuation Roll can also be inspected at various offices of the Lands Ministry countrywide.Pohamba said his Ministry had been tasked by the Government to implement Land Tax on all commercial agricultural land in the country.The money collected from Land Tax will be deposited into a fund to be used to acquire land to resettle the previously disadvantaged Namibians as well as to develop and improve commercial agricultural land.