Namibia: Zambezi Against Tobacco Plan

Source from:  Namibian.com.na 06/09/2015

Farmers and concerned locals in the Zambezi region have raised concerns about a private company's proposed plans to create a tobacco plantation.

Namibia Oriental Tobacco intends to set up a tobacco plantation on 10 000 hectares of land in the Liselo area of the Zambezi region.

At an environmental impact assessment meeting conducted by environmental consultant Simon Charter on Friday, many of those in attendance used the platform to openly condemn proposed plans of the tobacco plantation.

One of those against the tobacco plantation plans is Seventh Day Adventist pastor Libonina Mubonenwa, who told Charter the region's residents are not against progressive plans by government, but against projects that are destructive to human and animal lives.

According to Mubonenwa, the proposed plans to create a tobacco plantation in the area is in contradiction with Namibia's tobacco laws and the recent gold medal awarded to Namibia by the World Health Organisation(WHO) for its fight to control tobacco products.

On 1 June, during the World No Tobacco celebration at Katima Mulilo, the WHO awarded Namibia the gold medal for its efforts in preventing the illicit trafficking of tobacco products in the country.

"It is stated clearly in the book of Mathew that a house that is divided is bound to collapse and cause confusion. If the Tobacco Act in effect is against the usage of such dangerous products, why must there be plans that will come in contradiction thereof?

"We want to support government's fight against tobacco. I am pleased with the medal Namibia was awarded but if the tobacco plantation is approved, it taints WHO's recognition of our country," Mubonenwa said. An unidentified small-scale crop farmer raised his objection to the tobacco plantation plans, saying tobacco devastates lives as the likelihood of many ending up smoking will evidently be high in the region and country.

"We do not want it. We also want to know if the planned tobacco plantation will form part of the irrigation scheme. If so, we are against it," said the crop farmer. Charter however explained to the community members that the EIA study of the Katima Farm and Liselo Irrigation Project is strictly focusing on crop and vegetable farming, saying it is regulated by the ministry of environment and tourism. He said no tobacco will be planted at the two projects, adding that if government approves such a plantation, a new EIA study will be conducted and meetings held where members of the public could object or air their support for such a project.

"If tobacco needs to be in at the said project at the start or later stage of the irrigation projects, then a new environmental study should be conducted. This will mean that the plans for any such projects will have to start all over again. "I can however state to you right now that no tobacco plants are included in this particular study. No tobacco will be planted at the irrigation project as it will only focus on crops and vegetables," Charter said.

Also present at the meeting was member of parliament and Linyanti constituency councillor, Cletius Sipapela, who told Nampa afterwards that he was delegated by Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu to stop the meeting if it focused on the tobacco plantation.

"The governor's office got wind that a meeting on the proposed tobacco plantation was taking place, but I found it was not the case. I was briefed by senior agricultural ministry officials that the meeting was to gauge public input into the plans by government to set up two irrigation schemes in the Zambezi region," Sipapela said. Enditem