KONGOLA - The once-hyped multi-million-dollar Kongola crocodile farm has become a white elephant after the state-of-the-art ranch was left incomplete for years.
The idea of the project, which started as far back as 2011, failed to get off the ground as it has been put on hold for various reasons, including a lack of funding by the government.
Upon arrival at the abandoned multi-million-dollar farm that lies along the Kwando River, one is greeted with an eyesore of overgrown grass and trees, which gives the impression of little to no human activity.
At the main entrance, the dilapidated gate stands near a small signboard written “no entry. This property is protected by Enduna Security Services”.
After calling the number on the signboard, the owner of the security company called his guard on duty, who immediately arrived at the gate on a bicycle and took this reporter through the bushy paths around the abandoned farm.
Sadly, the state-of-the-art infrastructure has been vandalised, and properties such as the electrical box to supply power to the farm have been stolen.
The once well-thatched room structures have since also been damaged by baboons, who have made the project their new relaxing home as there are no activities going on.
Building materials such as bricks have likewise been stolen. The farm has four huge dams where crocs were to be bred, but the dams now house tall grass and trees instead of the semi-aquatic reptiles.
This project is a brainchild of the ministry of trade and industrialisation, implemented by the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), which is a commercial State-owned enterprise (SOE) resorting under it.
To date, the government has pumped in over N$100 million for the failed project.
Construction on the project, which is nearly complete, stopped in 2015.
Kongola councillor Benett Busihu told New Era that the contractors abandoned the site between 2016 and 2017 due to a contractual dispute.
“The building has been abandoned. When I came into office, we held several consultations with the ministry of trade. I had meetings with the executive director. Plans have been done in terms of security to safeguard the farm. The building is losing value. It was almost complete. There is no value for money. It is 80% complete,” Busihu stated.
The councillor said Secretary to Cabinet George Simaata visited the project in 2021, and questioned the trade ministry on the future plans and the way forward.
“We are waiting on the ministry of trade for their response if they are continuing, or what to do. Maybe they could give us the green light to venture into a public-private partnership to involve investors. The thatched-roofed structures are damaged by baboons. The place is vandalised because it was left incomplete. I don’t know what happened; whether there is money or not to finish the project,” Busihu observed.
He is hopeful that the project will get off the ground, as it is strategically located as a tourism destination.
Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu said the project was poorly-funded by the trade ministry.
“Trade started with the project. They always send people, and they start and stop again. In 2020, they send the Chinese, who were constructing. During 2021, there were no funds, up to now. We can’t leave it like that. It is just funding,” he stressed.
In an attempt to revive the project, the trade ministry’s deputy executive director Michael Humavindu said funding to many government projects has been cut, and the croc farm was thus also affected.
“We got a security guard to look after the place. We didn’t have money for fencing. Unfortunately, the councillors and governor are right. They warned us and consulted us. This year, we included it in the development budget so that we erect a fence. We are looking into a private partnership. Our doors are open to any investor. We want those facilities to work and benefit the locals,” Humavindu added.
Asked how much the government invested in the project thus far, he said “there was some good money spent on that project, but I am not sure about the amount.”
However, he gave the assurance that about N$1.5 million has been set aside in the development budget to jump-start the project by erecting a fence.
The idea for establishing the croc farm was to minimise the increasing loss of human lives due to crocodile attacks. It was also envisaged that the farm would have a tannery to process skins for belts, shoes and handbags out of crocodile skins for the international market.
Currently, Namibia’s only crocodile ranch at Otjiwarongo is a success story in terms of international markets and as a tourist attraction.
Kongola is a small settlement, situated some 117km from the main regional centre of Katima Mulilo. The constituency has a sizeable crocodile population that attacks humans and kills livestock yearly.
- anakale@nepc.com.na