By: Annakleta Haikera
Concerns from political and traditional leadership poured over the state of the Sikondo Green Scheme in the Kavango West Region.
On Monday, during a high-level visit by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi to the Mbunza Traditional Authority, chief Hompa Alfons Kaundu raised concerns over the state of the Sikondo Green Scheme in the Kavango West region.
Speaking during a community engagement at the Mbunza Traditional Authority, Kaundu expressed frustration over the apparent dormancy of the Sikondo Green Scheme.
Kaundu noted that the once-promising agricultural project now appears neglected, with overgrown dry grasses dominating the fields and no visible plantation activity taking place.
“If there is no plantation happening at the centre land of the green scheme, let the land be returned to the community,” Kaundu said. “We cannot continue watching our land burn and be wasted while people remain hungry,” he added.
“This land belongs to the people, and if nothing is being done, then we should be allowed to take it back and make use of it ourselves,” he noted.
Furthermore, Kaundu pointed to the fact that people availed their land in hopes of food security and employment. The reality, however, has been that after years of inactivity, only barren land remains in sight. The statement was met with murmurs of agreement from several community members in attendance, highlighting growing dissatisfaction with the status of the government-run irrigation project.
In response, the manager of the Sikondo Green Scheme, Maxwell Nghidinwa, defended the current state of the project, stating that while the fields may appear unproductive, preparations are underway for a new initiative.
He explained that the overgrown, brown grass is being preserved as fodder for cattle, and may soon be harvested and sold as part of a new income-generating venture.
“The grass is not being wasted,” Nghidinwa said.
“We are exploring opportunities to sell it as feed for livestock, which will benefit farmers in and outside the region. This is a strategic move while we plan for future cultivation,” he added. Despite the explanation, community members remained sceptical, with some calling for clearer timelines and stronger accountability measures for the management of the scheme. Prime Minister Ngurare also chipped in on the matter, suggesting Nghidinwa reaches out to Kaundu for clarity on why part of the project has been left unattended for years. Ngurare also added that he and the line minister would have a deeper look into the matter.
The visit forms part of the Prime Minister’s regional development tour aimed at assessing the progress and challenges of government-backed projects in the Kavango regions.
The Sikondo Green Scheme, once hailed as a flagship agricultural initiative, has faced years of operational challenges, raising questions about the viability and sustainability of green schemes across the country.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Sikondo Green Scheme planted 14 hectares of potatoes, which are ready to be harvested. The project is part of broader efforts to curb Namibia’s dependency on imports and encourage internal growth, as potatoes remain one of the key crops imported in large quantities.
