EU donates vehicles worth more than N$6 million to Agriculture Ministry

Staff Reporter

THE European Union (EU) has donated ten vehicles, valued at over N$6 million, to the Namibian Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform in support of the Programme for Communal Land Development (PCLD).

Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, revealed that the EU and the Federal Republic of Germany, through the Germany Development Bank (KfW), donated the vehicles for the PCLD. He explained that the donation includes nine Toyota Hilux (4×4 double cabs), which will be used in various regions to enhance the livelihoods of people through PCLD program activities. Additionally, one Toyota Rav4 will be used for administrative purposes within the program.

The minister expressed confidence that this donation will enhance the livelihoods of people living in Namibia’s communal areas. He added that the ministry needs mobility to effectively administer and manage land, and the donated vehicles will enable them to reach all priority areas.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our development partners who have chosen to make this important gesture to the Government of the Republic of Namibia, in addition to all the good they have done for us since the launch of the PCLD on 11th June 2014,” said Schlettwein.

EU’s Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, said that the donated vehicles, valued at a total of N$6,549,963.84, are part of the EU’s support for the PCLDs program, which the EU became involved in back in 2013. She disclosed that the EU’s support for the PCLDs concluded on 31 March 2023, but the EU remains interested in the program’s progress. Antila also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the program for the significant progress achieved over the past decade.

“These remarks are a token of appreciation as we want to thank and express our appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, KfW, and all stakeholders involved in the implementation of this program for what they have achieved thus far, and for what remains to be achieved in the PCLD,” added Antila.