Tobacco answer to industrialisation – Utoni JEMIMA BEUKES Lands minister Utoni Nujoma believes a tobacco plantation will set Namibia on the path of industrialisation.
Commenting on the Namibia Industrial Development Agency Bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Nujoma said a tobacco plantation might not even need a lot of water and could therefore be established in the desert.
According to him Namibia must learn from the Cubans who are exporting Cuban cigars.
“Let’s look at some of these niche markets. The tobacco here is for those who want it, we can export it, and it is not for local consumption. You see you can industrialise if you use tobacco – specialisation,” he said.
Nujoma also suggested that Namibia consider large-scale exports of donkey products, including donkey hides, which according to him have medicinal properties.
“Donkey meat is a delicacy in China. The donkeys are considered a nuisance, one minister was even asking why we don’t eliminate the donkeys that are causing so many accidents,” said Nujoma.
He also said he would gladly approve applications for land as long as it is for development purposes, but conditions would be attached.
Nujoma’s suggestion of tobacco production comes months after an outcry over plans by businessman Armas Amukwiyu to set up a tobacco plantation in the Zambezi Region.
At the time health minister Bernard Haufiku slammed the idea and called on all health-conscious Namibians to join the fight against it.
Haufiku urged residents of the region to choose health over toxins.