By: Dolly Menas
Etunda Green Scheme manager Sacky Shilyomunhu has expressed concern after three men allegedly stole items worth N$68 442 from a warehouse at the Etunda Green Scheme on Saturday.
Shilyomunhu said he is worried about the theft when it comes to items and equipment at the irrigation project, although the equipment has since been recovered.
“The materials were discovered, culprits were caught, and they are in police custody. There is nothing to worry about the law taking its own course,” Shilyomunhu told The Villager.
“Theft is an issue not only in farming but across the sector. It is disturbing our peace, our environment and giving a bad picture to our children,” he said.
Shilyomunhu said that the items that were stolen are farming materials (fertiliser), and the case has been in the hands of the police since they opened a case with the Namibian police after the equipment was stolen.
Shilyomunhu added that the culprits are not farmers but people from the community. However, he also stated that he does not know whether they are farmers from where they come from.
He also added that they got their items back and they are going to tighten up their security.
Shilyomunhu mentioned that the issue of theft affected a lot of people, including farmers, in a very bad way.
“Stealing is unethical and demoralising. It also woke us up to improve our security system. It taught us a good lesson to protect our properties,” he said.
He further added that they are currently busy with the preparation of planting maise. They are monitoring the weather so that they start with the planting of their crops.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly used unknown objects to open the warehouse padlocks. Once they gained entry, they stole 22 bags of Urea fertiliser, 22 bags of Magnesium Nitrate, nine bags of Potassium Nitrate and two 15 litres of Prosaro.
The police had said the stolen items were recovered.
The suspects made their first court appearance at the Outapi Magistrate Court on Monday.
