Workers Urge Government To Manage Ranch With Over 12 000 Cattle

By: Annakleta Haikera

WORKERS at the state-owned Kavango Cattle Ranch at Mangetti in the Kavango West region have called on the government to take charge of managing the farm claiming it could collapses under the current management.

The farm in question is currently managed under the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) and has approximately 38 camps with over 12 000 cattle.

In July last year, The Villager reported that over 100 cattle had died at the cattle farm, allegedly due to NIDA’s mismanagement.

Some of the employees at the ranch spoke to The Villager about the state on mismanagement and labour issues they are subjected to.

Simon Sinyundu, one of the workers, said livestock at the ranch is not properly taken care of.

He said even though some cattle have been sold at the farm, they don’t see where the money goes event hough management are claiming “money is used to sustain the farm”

“The cattle at the cattle post are still dying due to lack of vaccination and food. The last time the cattle were vaccinated was in June/July this year. Things are becoming very critical at the farm and when you talk to the management they hardly respond with actions,” Sinyundu narrated.