The president of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani, said farmers who want to buy land through Agribank are finding it difficult to access land, taking them up to six months.

He explained that this is because people selling land are only willing to do so through commercial banks.

"The Ministry of Finance is responsible for overseeing the affairs of Agribank, an agricultural bank that has the sole responsibility of making sure that more and more previously disadvantaged Namibians can have access to land. As we are speaking, all firms are advertising in this country for auctions; they are denying any applicant that comes from Agribank because Agribank is marked by bureaucracy."

He further enquires whether the Finance Minister has made any attempts to engage Agribank to look into its way of doing business.

Minister Ericah Shafuda responded that she has met with Agribank to discuss other matters, but this has not yet come to her attention.

"I have met AgriBank more than twice since my appointment on the 22nd of March 2025. And I have brought to their attention what I have had by then. This one has not come to my attention before, but it's something that I'm going to take up with them because we are really engaged in improving the areas of improvement that have been highlighted. And as responsible Namibians, we have to listen and to act on what we have received as feedback."

The minister said she will engage the board and provide feedback in due course.