President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has questioned the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to retain management of the Kalimbeza National Rice Project, instead of transferring it to the University of Namibia (UNAM) as she previously recommended.

Indonesia has expressed interest in assisting the government of Namibia to maintain the Kalimbeza Rice Project in the Zambezi Region.

Recently, news circulated about the dire state of the Kalimbeza rice project, highlighting mismanagement as a contributing factor.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has expressed disappointment with the state of the Kalimbeza Rice Project in the Zambezi Region. 

The University of Namibia's (UNAM) Vice-Chancellor has given assurance of plans that could help resuscitate the Kalimbeza Rice Project, saying it should not fail while the university, with all its experience, is there.

The Kalimbeza Rice Project in the Zambezi Region remains dormant due to a lack of funds.

This is despite the project having been bailed out in 2020 when the Ministry of Agriculture spent N$7.1 million to keep it running.