Fruits and vegetables worth N$3 billion imported

Duringthehandoveroftheagriculturalequipment,sewingmachines,andwheelchairstheGovernorofErongoregion,NevilleAndreItope,revealedthatforthe pastthreeyears,NamibiahasimportedfruitsandvegetablesworthN$3billion,a figurethatheisnothappywith.

Itope said, “this means that every yearweimportfruits and vegetables worth a billion dollars.Thisshouldnot be, because once you import fruits and vegetables, we are exporting employment to other countriesandweare also taking away the foodthatneedstocome to the table, we are exporting that because wearenotempowering our people and we are not giving the opportunitytoourpeopleto grow food that we can produce in our country.”

TheOfficeoftheEron- go Regional Governor handed over agricultural equipment, sewing machines, and wheelchairs his office received from the private sector and individuals to beneficiaries within the region on Thursday, 23 March in Swakopmund.

Duringthehandoverof theitems,Itopesaid,“I am very happy to announce today that what we are handing over today came out of the private sector, people that really try to go deepintotheirpockets, people that produce Some of them are companieswheresome of our brothers and sistersareworkingday and night and the profits they make are what we are getting today So, it is the contribution of people thatsawitfittobepart and share with the wholenation.”

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA) donated 1 037 agricultural equipment such as rakes, shovels, and picksthatwillbedistributed to farmers or people that are already engagedinagricultural projects across the region so that they can continue to grow and producemore.

Itope said he hopes the donation of agricultural equipment will expire the people who areinthesectortogrow more, work hard, and produce food not only for their families but alsofortheshops.“We would want to see that whatyouareproducing in your backyard or at your project is having space on the shelves in

1 Name and postal address of applicant: Filemon Mathew, P O Box405,Okahandja.

2. Name of business or proposed business to which application relates:

3 Address/location of p h application relates: Erf 7703, Nehale Iyampinga Street..

4. Nature and details of application: Application for a Special Liquor Licence.

5. Clerk of the court with whom application will be lodged: Walvis Bay

Shoprite, Woolworths, and all those other shops we buy food from in our country Thisdonation should increase production levels so that we do not import our food from other countries so that we eatwhatweproduce.”

Rani Group of Companies also handed over 50 wheelchairs and the Office of the First Lady donated twosewingmachines.

MagistrateCourt.

6 Date on which application will be lodged:29March2023.

7. Date of meeting of Committee at which application will be heard: 10May2023. Any objection or written submission in terms of section 28 of the Act in relationtotheapplication must be sent or delivered to the Secretary of the Committee to reach Secretary,notlessthan21 daysbeforethedateofthe meetingoftheCommittee at which application will beheard.