2006-10-10Staff Report 2 By Francis Mukuzunga WINDHOEK Tanzania's Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, and his delegation are visiting Namibia on a fact-finding mission as well as to discuss matters of mutual interest especially in relation to livestock and animal health. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry says Dr Kawambwa arrived in the country on Sunday and is being hosted by his Namibian counterpart, Dr Nickey Iyambo. Yesterday the delegation was expected to visit the Government Veterinary Laboratory, the Neudamm Agricultural College and also a resettlement farm in the Dorbabis area after having paid a courtesy call on Dr Iyambo's office earlier in the day. Today, the party is expected to tour Namibia Dairies and to experience a stud auction at a farm in Lichtenstein West, after which they will wind up the day by visiting the Gammams Reclamation Plant. Visits to the Swakara Tannery and Feedlot, the Okahandja Abattoir and a farm belonging to Sidney Martin in the Witvlei area have been planned for tomorrow. Martin is one of the most successful black Namibian farmers who are on large-scale farming and related business ventures in the country. Martin recently teamed up with a consortium of black businesspeople in the area to establish the N$18-million Witvlei Meat Abattoir and Meat-Processing Plant. The project is a joint venture between local businesspeople and some Norwegian investors. President Hifikepunye Pohamba officially opened the plant, which last month had a slaughter capacity of between 100 and 150 cattle per day. A final meeting with the Meat Board on Thursday will round up some of the official activities of the Tanzanian delegation. Namibia and Tanzania have had some excellent relationships dating back many years. Tanzania's livestock industry is well known, with the Masaai people forming the bulk of communal farmers in that country. It is expected that the two countries will benefit from each other's experiences, especially now that the land reform process is well under way. 2006-10-10Staff Report 2
