05 May 2017
Agribank chief executive officer, Sakaria
Nghikembua, has assured the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) that the bank
is ready to listen to individual clients who are prepared to engage it in order
to make arrangements to repay their debts. Nghikembua stated that the bank has
always been ready and continues to listen to numerous clients who visit
Agribank on a daily basis to discuss their challenges with a view to enter into
credible, fair and practical arrangements to settle their outstanding arrears.
“Every client has a unique situation and we cannot, as a bank, discuss
individual clients’ situations in a group. We are glad that a number of our
clients have already visited our offices or those of our appointed debt
collectors, in this regard. We have a responsibility to ensure that the bank is
financially sustainable and the debt collections initiative is just but one initiative
that the bank is implementing in pursuit of the financial sustainability
objective.”
The
Agribank chief made the remarks at a
stakeholder engagement session with NNFU, which represents communal farmers
throughout the country. The objective of the
engagement session was, amongst others, to share the key milestones achieved by
the bank over the past nine months, highlights of the Bank’s 5-year strategy
and its focus for the future.
At the occasion, NNFU Board member and Councillor of the Aminuis Constituency,
Peter Kazongominja, expressed satisfaction with the information presented at
the session, which contextualizes the bank’s strategy and the rationale for the
arrears collection initiative. According to him, many farmers are battling with
the effects of the recent drought and low livestock levels. As a result, some farmers adopted an
antagonistic attitude towards the bank but he assured the Agribank team that
NNFU will continue to spread the message to its members. “I can assure you that
my message to our members will be to urge them to visit Agribank offices as
individual clients to make suitable arrangements since clients are individually
liable to settle their outstanding debts,” he stated.
On his part, NNFU Executive Director, Mwilima Mushokabanji, reiterated
that lack of information by communal farmers sometimes lead to anger and
frustrationfrustrations, but that once the relevant information is shared, the
farmers understand and appreciate the context of decisions affecting them.
Mushokabanji invited the bank to attend its annual congresses as well as
regional farmers' information days to share information about its operations and
activities. He further applauded Agribank for introducing the no collateral
loan product for communal farmers, stating that it is long overdue and a huge
boost for communal farmers in the country.
NNFU was represented by its Executive Director, Executive Board Members
Sirkka Iileka and Kazongominja as well as Beata Xulu, the NNFU’s Program
Manager.
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Loans are granted against security of fixed property, investment or any other acceptable form of security (fixed deposits, investments and surrendering value of policies). read more
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Yes, Agribank can assist you to start farming. read more