Renthia Kaimbi
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) has supplied fruits to retailers without receiving payment and leased state land for as little as N$1 per month.
The Windhoek Observer uncovered that internal documents and spoken sources point to weak governance and misuse of public assets meant to drive industrial growth.
At the centre of the issue is Naute Farm in the south of the country, known for grape and date farming.
Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Nida has been supplying fruits to certain retailers for years without collecting payments.
Estimates place the outstanding debts from one arrangement between N$13 million and N$15 million, with no signs of recovery efforts in sight.
Investigations by the Windhoek Observer show that several companies received long-term leases for state-owned land at almost no cost.
Most of these deals were signed before 2020 and cover areas from two to 50 hectares in towns such as Walvis Bay, Karibib and Otjiwarongo.
Some companies pay between N$1 and N$10 per month, while others have left the land unused despite its economic value.
One case involves Walvis Bay National Cold Storage (Pty) Ltd, which leases 5.6 hectares on Farm 139 in Walvis Bay for 50 years at N$1 per month, with an option to renew for another 45 years.
Namibia Golden Medical Supplies (Pty) Ltd leases 5 673 square metres on the same farm for N$10 per month for 30 years, with an option to renew for another 20.
In Otjiwarongo, Pneumatic Green Energy (Pty) Ltd leases two hectares for N$10 a month for 30 years.
Aqualekker Farming Namibia (Pty) Ltd leases a plot in Karibib for N$10 a month for 40 years.
Nida holds a 20% stake in Aqualekker Farming.
The BiP Container Terminal, located on Farm 139 in Walvis Bay, leases 6.3 hectares for N$5 000 a year, which is about N$416 per month for 20 years, with an option to renew for another 25 years.
Its owner, Warren Ockhuys, told the Windhoek Observer that the rent increased to N$20 000 per month in January 2024.
“We are paying N$20 000 and there’s an escalation every year. But we have to review it, I think, next year again. The thing (agreement) is linked to business development. If the business grows and the income grows, the linkage will be towards that,” Ockhuys said.
He confirmed that BiP was once co-managed by Namcor corruption co-accused Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse during the Covid-19 pandemic but said that partnership ended three years ago.
“Nope, for the last three years, we have not been partners,” he said.
All lease agreements state that when renewal begins, “market-related rental will be charged.”
The situation exposes serious management failures at Nida. The agency lacks a profit-sharing model and faces allegations that some employees benefit personally from questionable deals.
Earlier this year, Nida reported a loss of N$102 million for its financial year-end. The institution last made a profit in 2020, when it recorded N$33 million.
In 2024, Nida’s main income streams came from agri-business sales (N$31 million), property rentals (N$44 million), dividends and interest (N$42 million), government grants (N$26 million), and breeding gains (N$19 million).
When contacted, Nida board chairperson Sebby Kankondi refused to comment.
“Why should I speak to you? If you are an employee of NIDA or a shareholder, then I can talk to you. If you can’t tell me why I have to talk to you, may I ask that we end this call?” he said before hanging up.
Insiders believe the dismissal of former acting chief executive officer Richwell Lukonga in June 2025 may be linked to these issues.
Lukonga was removed three months before his term ended by former minister of industries, mines and energy Natangue Ithete.
While the official reason cited disagreements over strategic plans, sources suggest Lukonga’s efforts to address corruption may have played a role.
“I am no longer employed at Nida and can, unfortunately, not comment. Kindly speak to the relevant people,” Lukonga said.
