Tobacco plantation delay

THE agriculture ministry has not yet given authorisation for the clearance of a state forest for the start of a controversial tobacco plantation. A Chinese company, Namibia Oriental Tobacco CC, got 10 000 hectares in the Zambezi Region to grow tobacco and maize. Local partner in the venture, Armas Amukwiyu, told The Namibian yesterday that although there are so many outstanding issues for which they still have to get authorisation, forest clearance is the major one. He added that the N$14 billion project was still on, and has not been cancelled. The governor of the Zambezi region, Lawrence Sampofu, also seemed patient. “We are waiting for clearance for the forest and (drawing) water, then everything will be fine, and the project can start.” The authorisation for water abstraction should also be obtained from the department of water affairs in the agriculture ministry. Agriculture minister yesterday referred local newspaper The Namibian to the director of forestry in the ministry, Joseph Hailwa, who was not reachable.