The Governor of Kavango East Region, Hamunyera Hambyuka, expressed concern over the state of the Shitemo Green Scheme, which has remained nearly inactive for nearly four years.

Shitemo is one of the 11 green schemes designed to promote irrigation-based farming to enhance agricultural productivity and food security.

Originally leased to Agri Pro in 2014 for a period of 20 years, the scheme's status quo negatively impacted local small-scale farmers, who relied on its water and electricity supplies.

During the governor's visit, it was observed that there are only 19 employees at the farm, responsible for equipment maintenance and cleaning.

The farm has become overgrown with bush, and some farm workers utilise the land to cultivate crops.

"I don't want to see a green scheme which is yellow. I don't want to see a green scheme which is black. A green scheme should be shining and green; that is one. Secondly, on the green scheme, we want to employ people. Our people are suffering from unemployment. We want to revamp it for us. At least if we are talking about one green scheme, the land is 1000 hectares; it's better to employ about 600 people, so that is my aim."

Governor Hambyuka stated that revitalising the Shitemo Green Scheme will be prioritised to benefit local communities and eventually the nation.

"We have to report to the community that there is something happening. So we cannot just sit and just talk, but what I am recommending is that if we have investors, let's see how we are going to treat the person who's owning this land now, Shitemo. So if there is a flexibility for us to say we are going to terminate this contract, we have to just do that. So if it's terminated, we will need to advertise it for us to get the investor."

As part of his regional tour, the governor also visited Uvhungu-vhungu and Ndonga Linena green schemes.