Logging at Zambezi Green Scheme still on hold

The cutting of at least 70 high-value trees in or near a Green Scheme construction site in the Zambezi Region was conducted illegally, forestry officials confirmed this week.

Last month, Namibian Sun reported that a probe into suspicious logging activities by a Chinese company, New Force Logistics, had been launched after dozens of protected trees were cut without a permit.

At the time, the companies involved with the logging argued that permits were not required to cut the trees, because an environmental clearance certificate, based on a completed environmental impact assessment (EIA), had been issued.

Joseph Hailwa, director of forestry in the agriculture ministry, told Namibian Sun last month that it was his understanding that the de-bushing activities, including the felling of listed trees, within the boundaries of the Green Scheme did not require additional permits from his department, given the environmental clearance certificate.

However, this week Hailwa said that a permit was in fact needed under forestry regulations, because New Force Logistics was not merely de-bushing the area, but cutting the trees for commercial purposes.

“They were actually operating without a permit. And yes, they do need a permit. They need a permit because they are actually converting those trees into commercial products,” he explained.

Hailwa added that issuing a permit to cut protected trees, even for commercial purposes, was merely a formality if the trees were cut within the area set aside for the irrigation scheme.

“It is in any case just formalising the permit. It must be given,” he said, explaining that the area must be cleared for the agricultural project.

He said a problem would arise if the trees were not cut within the designated area, adding that the logging operations remained on hold because forestry officials suspected that some of the trees had been harvested outside the designated area.

This issue, as well as the required paperwork, will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for 14 March, officials confirmed this week.

The investigation to date has discovered that at least 70 trees were felled without a permit.

The trees consisted of Zambezi teak, a high-value species that is listed as near threatened, in addition to another high-value species, the large false mopane (African rosewood). Both species are protected under Namibian law.

According to sources close to the investigation, there was “selective cutting” of valuable timber near or at the Green Scheme area, and there was no evidence no large-scale de-bushing activities, as claimed.

Two of the issues that will be discussed at the upcoming meeting are whether the commercial harvesting took place within the boundaries of the Katima Farm and Liselo irrigation project, or outside it as some suspect, and to address the lack of permits from the forestry department.

The meeting will be attended by forestry officials, agriculture officials, regional councillors and officials from the Ministry of Land Reform.

Also in attendance will be representatives of New Force Logistics and Uundenge Investments, the company that subcontracted the de-bushing tender to the Chinese company.

It is not clear whether MK Construction Investment JV Okatombo Investment, the joint venture that was awarded the N$26 million tender last year for the de-bushing and ripping of the Katima Farm and Liselo irrigation project, will be in attendance.

Uundenge Investments subcontracted the de-bushing and ripping to New Force Logistics in January this year. New Force Logistics is reportedly owned by Chinese national Hou Xueching, who has faced numerous criminal charges in Namibia.

In an agreement seen by Namibian Sun, Xueching agreed to pay Uundenge Investments N$3 million over the course of March, May and a last million-dollar payment in July this year, in order to carry out the de-bushing.

Although the contract between the two, titled 'Farm Trees Sale Agreement', stipulates that the “main contractor assist sub-contractor to apply for those permits and documents about requiring felling, transporting, selling these trees, and cost undertaken by main contractor”, Laban Kandume, owner of Uundenge Investments, told Namibian Sun last month that a permit was not required for the cutting of the trees.

He argued that a permit was only required for the transporting of the timber.



JANA-MARI SMITH