Members of the National Council have raised concerns over the poor state of agro projects across the country, blaming a lack of supervision and accountability for their failure.
During a debate on the findings of the Public Accounts and Economy Committee’s visits to agronomic projects, lawmakers expressed disappointment over the poor outcomes despite significant government investment.
Swapo MP Johannes Karondo urged fellow lawmakers to revisit the projects, noting rising tensions on the ground. "Maybe from the onset, I still appeal that if you happen to have some funds, you better go and do some visit again. The relationship between workers with TA has even gone sour as we speak," he said.
Bethuel Tjaveondja, also from Swapo, said the intended goal of empowering small and medium enterprises was not being achieved. “Our people are concerned... if we are also not paying rent, the machineries and everything are taken over by this NIDA. Some of them have closed down. At the end of the day operations stop and to some people it was a way of generating money.”
Gerhard Shiimi criticised those tasked with supervising the projects, accusing them of conflict of interest and lack of commitment. “Honestly, the government is trying by all means, but us as human beings, who are entrusted to supervise and implement... if it does not open its eyes on how to charge whoever under corruption, the whole country is going to fall.”
LPM MP Harald Kambrude said the situation was dire. “This NIDA issue is... they got a hundred and forty-eight projects. Every single one of them is down the grave,” he said. “We get there and it is exactly the same as it was a year ago.”
Sebastiaan !Gobs of the UDF pointed to the Ondangwa tannery as a long-standing problem. “New machines with hides inside… the last recommendation was for the town council to switch on [power] for a week so the machines can run, and they can take out the hides and clean the machines.”
Swapo MP Leonard Shikulo echoed frustrations with NIDA. “These are not serious people. At Manjeha... there are elephants in the shade, and they are the ones in the building. A good infrastructure but you won’t believe that it’s built by government funds. There is no follow-up—things are run from Windhoek.”
Lawmakers are now calling for stronger oversight, better management, and urgent action to prevent further misuse of public funds. They stress that these projects must be revived to benefit local communities as originally intended.