Farmer suffers massive loss
A communal farmer in the Mbunza Traditional Authority area of the Kavango West Region has been left with no grazing for his livestock after about 10 000 hectares were destroyed by fire this week. Farmer Alex Endunde, who is a pensioner, said he has been unable to establish whether the fire was caused by human activity or if it was a natural occurrence.
The fire, which destroyed the already-scarce grazing, broke out on Rider Farm, 145 km south of Rundu, on Monday this week. By Wednesday morning, it was still blazing. More than 250 animalsm mainly cattle and goats, now have no grazing.
The fire also destroyed fences and poles. Endunde said yesterday that he would appeal to the government to also consider introducing a subsidy scheme for farmers affected by veld fires, since they are natural disasters.
Scanners increasing revenue
Namibia recorded an increase in revenue from N$790 million in 2010/2011 to N$1.2 billion in 2012/2013 in the form of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Customs and Excise duties. This increase is attributed to the installation and operation of scanners at various entry and exit points in the country, such as at the Wenela, Oshikango and Trans-Kalahari border posts. Minister of Finance Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila provided these figures at the commissioning of the eighth scanning facility at the Noordoewer border post on Wednesday.
Similar facilities bought by the Ministry of Finance in August 2009 were installed at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport and the Walvis Bay harbour. Scanners are used to X-ray goods and vehicles coming into the country.
Reports by Nampa