NIDA CALLS FOR SPEEDY GAZETTING OF ASSET TRANSFERS NBC Online Tue, 11/03/2026 - 20:18

60 likes, 0 comments - c_c_w_p on November 3, 2026: "Announcing two very special guests for Sunday’s virtual teach-in: Nida Abu Baker & Noa Avishag Schnall. Nida is a human rights activist & daughter...

The state-owned enterprise, Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) has called for the speedy gazetting of asset transfers from businesses merged and dissolved to form the agency. The Namibia Development Corporation and the Offshore Development Company were merged and dissolved to form NIDA. The call for the speedy asset transfer process was made during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy's follow-up oversight to Naute Irrigation Farm. The farm, with a market value of N$233 million managed by NIDA, which produces 400 tonnes of grapes and 332 dates for export markets, is located near Keetmanshoop. It employs 51 permanent workers and more than 300 seasonal workers. NIDA's Chief Regional Officer Julius Nghikevali explained that there is currently a lot of disruption in the organisation. "This is the fact that the organisation is not fully funded and capitalised and also its assets that it is legally entitled to. Those assets are still legally sitting in the older organisation, which shouldn't exist. Those organisation should be terminated by an Act of Parliament." The follow-up oversight visit aimed to assess progress in implementing the committee's recommendations. The recommendations include independent marketing of the farm's produce, increase of the petty cash allocation, opening a bank with signatory rights to the farm management, and construction of septic tanks. The committee's chairperson Eddie |Nanub expressed satisfaction with the progress reported on the recommendation's implementation "We will follow-up again just to see whether they will deliver what they have said, but we are very much satisfied with the management's responses." It transpired that NIDA entered into a partnership agreement to operate the Naute Farm with Fekri and Sons Trading, which is involved in the packaging, export, and transportation of fruits and vegetables. It further emerged that this agreement was sealed without the knowledge of the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Energy. This did not go down well with committee members, who called for greater coordination and collaboration between NIDA and the line ministry.

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Tension briefly flared up during a Parliamentary Standing Committee oversight meeting after members raised questions over Naute Kristall Distillery's operational expenses and dividend payments. Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), a state-owned enterprise, and Michael Weder each hold a 50% stake in the distillery. A heated exchange erupted when the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy Vice-Chairperson Leonard Shikulo questioned NIDA about covering the distillery's electricity and water expenses. It also transpired that no dividends were paid to NIDA since the distillery became operational 10 years back. "We heard we are not paying for water and electricity," enquired Shikulo. "I am very sensitive about this. Because last time you were here, somebody lied to you that we were not paying for electricity, and I don't like this. Ask Mr Julius, please; ask him. I don't lie either; that's why I ask you. Because you're asking me to put me in a trap," retorted Managing Director at Naute Kristall Distillery, Michael Weder. Weder said the distillery only started paying its water and electricity bills two years back. He explained the first five years were a pilot phase, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which left the distillery unable to cover its operational costs. The Committee's Chairperson, Eddie |Nanub, intervened and called for calm discussions. "If you say it is emotional or whatever. You know, all these, whatever is going on - for us it is emotional. What is going on? But we have set that aside to be in mutual understanding to see and understand where this is coming from." Weder tendered an apology for raising his voice. NIDA's Chief Financial Officer Julius Nghikevali acknowledged the agency's administrative failure partly contributed to operational costs and dividend issues. "The fact of the matter is the parties have not fully adhered to the agreement from the point of view that there are certain payments that need to be made, and those payments are clearly defined. We are only working that out now." Nghikevali further revealed a prepaid electricity was installed at the distillery's premises, while the parties reached an agreement over the recovery of utility bills previously covered by NIDA. The distillery produces gin from second-grade dates supplied from Naute Farm, which is managed by NIDA. Employing eight permanent workers, the distillery supplies gin to local markets and exports it to the USA, Germany, and South Africa.

IremboGov incident on November 4, 2026: Kubakoresha IremboGov, Turabamenyesha ko hari imbogamizi mugusaba serivisi zose zisabwa hakoreshejwe nomero y’indagamuntu cyangwa nomero y’i Started 8:57 AM UTC, resolved ongoing (● 5m). Affected: RNP, NIDA, MINALOC.