Loide Jason & Pricilla Mukokobi
A resident of Stinkwater who received 12 goats through the Khomas Regional Council community funding project, is not happy with the animals he received, saying they are immature and not worth the budget allocated to him.
Niklaas Aribeb, a small farmer at the Stinkwater informal settlement near Dordabis, 90km east of Windhoek, is one of several beneficiaries who received goats under the council’s Support Resources to Poor Farmers programme on 23 February 2023.
He received 11 ewes and a ram.
“Although I have received and accepted the goats, I am not satisfied. The ewes are immature – as young as three months old. This will require me to spend more money on them while I am a poor farmer. I have no money to buy milk and nutrition for these ewes,” Aribeb explained while pointing to the goats.
The farmer also disputed the value of the goats, saying they are worth less than the communicated value which is N$25 000.
Aribeb said the main reason he accepted the young goats is that the officials who delivered them were threatening him, saying he should be grateful or else they will give them away.
“In the letter, they are saying the goats are worth N$25 000 but for me, I think they are worth N$8 000. I told her (the official who delivered the goats) the goats she brought is not worth N$25 000; anybody can see. When I asked her where the rest of the money is, she said I am ungrateful, the government is giving me free goats. What I have to do is raise them and make the best out of it and I should stop complaining. That’s what I got from her before she drove off,” he narrated.
Aribeb said the awarding letter states that a memorandum of understanding between him and the regional council will be signed, but that has not happened yet.
The awarding letter seen by this reporter dated 03 October 2022, indicated that Aribeb’s small livestock project is allocated N$25 000.
“Please note that funds will not be transferred to your accounts, however, the regional council will pay the suppliers directly for the items you requested according to the quotation submitted. We hope that this support will uplift your living condition and assist in bringing development and service closer to your country. The memorandum of understanding will be explained to you and signed between yourself and Khomas Regional Council,” reads the letter signed by the chief regional officer Clement Mafwila.
Contacted for comment, Mafwila requested time to visit the project in question and verify the facts before commenting on the allegations.
He returned and told New Era that indeed the regional council officials delivered goats that were immature and it does not meet the objectives of the programme, which is for the animals to reproduce to improve their lives and create jobs.
“I managed to go there and observe the situation. The farmer’s concern is genuine and we have agreed that we will rectify the issue by compensating him for the four very small goats. We will also change our strategy for the way forward in the next projects. We have learned from this experience,” said Mafwila.
He said the goats cannot be replaced by the supplier as the concerns were learned after two weeks. However, they will find a way to resolve the matter amicably.
– ljason@nepc.com.na