Mbumba’s ‘partisan’ mahangu import policy lambasted
Citizens demand equal treatment
The agriculture ministry has confirmed that the president's May directive is only applicable to regions bordering Angola, due to their 'unique context'.
Accusations of tribal bias have emerged from ethnic groups along the country’s borders, after it was revealed that President Nangolo Mbumba's May directive - permitting the importation of mahangu grains from Angola - is only applicable in Oshiwambo-speaking regions.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ondonga Heritage Shrine in the Oshikoto Region in May, Mbumba urged police officers patrolling the borders to allow Namibians to import mahangu from Angola. Pressure group Namibian Lives Matter (NLM), which originated in the Zambezi Region, charged that Mbumba’s directive should have been applied to other regions that equally feel the brunt of the current drought, but do not share a border with Angola.
The agriculture ministry this week told Namibian Sun that the arrangement applies specifically to regions on the Namibia-Angola border due to their ‘unique context’.
According to the ministry, the decision to allow the importation of grains, specifically mahangu and cow feed, with fewer restrictions was made due to the observed inflow of these grains from Angola and the connection between that country and the east-northeast border.
The goal was to facilitate easier and more controlled importation through the official border rather than through unofficial entries, the ministry said. It emphasised that this arrangement is exclusive to the Namibia-Angola border.
"There is no physical border, and imposing restrictions would be difficult to manage. Our goal was to make the process more practical and controllable by encouraging the use of official border entries. In other areas, permits are still required for importing grains.”
Selectively applying laws
Executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata explained in a public notice last year that the ministry recognised the necessity of enabling individuals to import these products without imposing unaffordable requirements on them.
"Due to the anticipated drought in Namibia, which may have impacted crop yields, the ministry foresees increased activities of sourcing/purchasing mahangu grains and beans from neighbouring countries such as Angola,” she said.
NLM chairperson Sinvula Mudabeti accused the government of selectively applying laws to benefit a section of the country, and excluding all other areas that may be facing similar - or even worse - challenges.
“According to recent predictions on the effects of the looming drought, areas such as the Zambezi Region are more prone to suffer the worst effects of drought due to low rainfall they received compared to other parts of Namibia, and yet efforts to assist people in mitigating the effects of drought are directed to areas that are less likely to suffer the worst effects of drought,” he said.
“The question that begs an answer from [Mbumba] is what criteria has he used to allow one part of Namibia to be exempted from the country's laws in importing mahangu, and [why has he not done so] at a national level? Considering that the staple food for people from the Zambezi is maize, which is not as drought-resistant as mahangu, why then has the ministry of agriculture not allowed the importation of maize meal and sweet potato from Zambia into Namibia? Is the life of a Zambezi resident [worth] less than that of another [resident] in other parts of the same country?” he asked in an open letter.
Ethnocentric behaviour
On the agriculture ministry’s assertion this week that the unique nature of the Namibia-Angola border necessitated Mbumba’s directive, Mudabeti said: “What measures have they put in place for the people of Zambezi, Kavango, Omaheke and the southern part of Namibia that borders South Africa?”
“What measures has the ministry put in place for the rest of Namibia? The same ministry was allowing milk from the northern regions beyond Oshivelo while confiscating milk from people in Zambezi and Kavango at Mururuani,” he said.
“We will not allow government officials to be an extension of politically oppressive regimes that discriminate against minorities in the country. We shall escalate this matter to the prime minister to seek answers on why the executive director of agriculture is supporting ethnocentric behaviour in a free Namibia,” he added.
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Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ondonga Heritage Shrine in the Oshikoto Region in May, Mbumba urged police officers patrolling the borders to allow Namibians to import mahangu from Angola. Pressure group Namibian Lives Matter (NLM), which originated in the Zambezi Region, charged that Mbumba’s directive should have been applied to other regions that equally feel the brunt of the current drought, but do not share a border with Angola.
The agriculture ministry this week told Namibian Sun that the arrangement applies specifically to regions on the Namibia-Angola border due to their ‘unique context’.
According to the ministry, the decision to allow the importation of grains, specifically mahangu and cow feed, with fewer restrictions was made due to the observed inflow of these grains from Angola and the connection between that country and the east-northeast border.
The goal was to facilitate easier and more controlled importation through the official border rather than through unofficial entries, the ministry said. It emphasised that this arrangement is exclusive to the Namibia-Angola border.
"There is no physical border, and imposing restrictions would be difficult to manage. Our goal was to make the process more practical and controllable by encouraging the use of official border entries. In other areas, permits are still required for importing grains.”
Selectively applying laws
Executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata explained in a public notice last year that the ministry recognised the necessity of enabling individuals to import these products without imposing unaffordable requirements on them.
"Due to the anticipated drought in Namibia, which may have impacted crop yields, the ministry foresees increased activities of sourcing/purchasing mahangu grains and beans from neighbouring countries such as Angola,” she said.
NLM chairperson Sinvula Mudabeti accused the government of selectively applying laws to benefit a section of the country, and excluding all other areas that may be facing similar - or even worse - challenges.
“According to recent predictions on the effects of the looming drought, areas such as the Zambezi Region are more prone to suffer the worst effects of drought due to low rainfall they received compared to other parts of Namibia, and yet efforts to assist people in mitigating the effects of drought are directed to areas that are less likely to suffer the worst effects of drought,” he said.
“The question that begs an answer from [Mbumba] is what criteria has he used to allow one part of Namibia to be exempted from the country's laws in importing mahangu, and [why has he not done so] at a national level? Considering that the staple food for people from the Zambezi is maize, which is not as drought-resistant as mahangu, why then has the ministry of agriculture not allowed the importation of maize meal and sweet potato from Zambia into Namibia? Is the life of a Zambezi resident [worth] less than that of another [resident] in other parts of the same country?” he asked in an open letter.
Ethnocentric behaviour
On the agriculture ministry’s assertion this week that the unique nature of the Namibia-Angola border necessitated Mbumba’s directive, Mudabeti said: “What measures have they put in place for the people of Zambezi, Kavango, Omaheke and the southern part of Namibia that borders South Africa?”
“What measures has the ministry put in place for the rest of Namibia? The same ministry was allowing milk from the northern regions beyond Oshivelo while confiscating milk from people in Zambezi and Kavango at Mururuani,” he said.
“We will not allow government officials to be an extension of politically oppressive regimes that discriminate against minorities in the country. We shall escalate this matter to the prime minister to seek answers on why the executive director of agriculture is supporting ethnocentric behaviour in a free Namibia,” he added.
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