The agriculture ministry has extended the deadline for farmers to register dams and boreholes to 31 October 2025.
This eight-month extension was granted to farmers by former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein in a letter sent to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) on 14 March.
According to the latest issue of the NAU newsletter released on Friday, after the Water Resources Management Act came into effect in August 2023, the union consulted a geohydrologist to explain the new law and its implications for farmers.
“A number of ambiguities and questions arose with the implementation of the law and the union took these up with the ministry with the help of several hydrologists,” the newsletter reads.
The union embarked on a campaign to keep its members informed of developments, as the legislation provided for a period of 18 months during which unregistered dams and boreholes had to be registered.
The deadline was set for 28 February but in light of questions from members, the NAU realised that members needed more time to comply with the legislation.
“The NAU therefore wrote to minister Schlettwein on 12 December 2024, requesting, among other things, an extension of the registration period.
“This was followed up by another letter to the minister on 31 January 2025,” said the union in the newsletter, adding that the minister replied on 10 February 2025 and said that he would consider only exceptional individual cases for extension after 28 February.
However, on 14 March Schlettwein extended the period to 30 October 2025.
“Landowners therefore have time to register their boreholes and dams until the end of October 2025,” said the NAU, as it encouraged members to register to be compliant with the law.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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