Tobacco Plantation Delay

Source from:  Namibian 07/19/2016

A Chinese company, Namibia Oriental Tobacco CC, got 10 000 hectares at Liselo in the Zambezi Region to grow tobacco and maize.

Local partner in the venture, Armas Amukwiyu, told The Namibian yesterday that although there are so many outstanding issues for which they still have to get authorisation, forest clearance is the major one.

He added that the N$14 billion project was still on, and has not been cancelled.

The governor of the Zambezi region, Lawrence Sampofu, also seemed patient.

"We are waiting for clearance for the forest and (drawing) water, then everything will be fine, and the project can start."

The authorisation for water abstraction should also be obtained from the department of water affairs in the agriculture ministry.

Agriculture minister John Mutorwa yesterday referred The Namibian to the director of forestry in the ministry, Joseph Hailwa, who was not reachable.

The project received environmental clearance about two years ago. The certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue unless it is withdrawn.

The environmental impact assessment states that the primary purpose will be tobacco production, although maize will also be grown on a rotational basis to minimise the occurrence of tobacco-related pests.

The project, which was supposed to have started in 2014, received a lot of criticism. Former health minister Richard Kamwi said the allocation of land for tobacco production, is not in the best interest of Namibians. Enditem