Despite Namibian Government making public statements against absentee foreign landlords it became known that Rashid Sardarov, a Russian businessman has bought several farms in Namibia totalling 28 000 ha with intention of setting up a game ranch and planning to buy more.
In addition, he plans to buy an extra 18 000 ha to bring the total to 46 000 ha of land near Namibian village of Dordabis in the Khomas Region which he will develop into a game ranch. This contradicts recent government sentiments of acquiring land from absentee landlords and stopping foreigners from buying land in Namibia.
The government has the right of first refusal when land is sold and it could not be established whether the State had been offered and rejected the land targeted by the Russian.
Sardarov, through his company Comsar Properties SA, has so far bought farms with a combined 28 000 ha and has applied to the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to buy a further 18 000 ha.
A reasonable sized farm in Namibia would be around 5 000 to 7 000 ha but that also depends on the region in which it is situated. A farm with good carrying capacity in Omaheke Region, for example, can size around 3 000 per ha while in the south of Namibia, farms are generally bigger because of the low carrying capacity.
According to documents submitted as part of the Environment Impact Assessment study the intended Marula Game Ranch will be established on Farm Coas No. 501, 70 km south-east of Windhoek.
Sardarov is the chairman and founder of Comsar Energy Group and South-Ural Industrial Company (SUIC), both of which are large private companies in Russia, with presence in several countries in Eastern Europe.
The assets of the companies amount to US$2,2 billion, according to the SUIC website.
“The Marula Game Ranch is being developed as a unique game ranch and will be the only ranch situated in close proximity to a major urban centre (Windhoek),” Sardarov and Comsar stated in the documents.
Sardarov's plan is to buy the land in phases. He bought three farms measuring about 28 000 ha during 2012-2013, and intends to purchase the other four smaller farms measuring 18 000 ha this year once the approval from the Minister of Lands and Resettlement has been obtained.
Documents show that there are currently over 7 000 game of different species on the ranch, which were purchased at around N$72 million.
“Sardarov has a passion and love for nature and wildlife, particularly the pristine ecosystem of Namibia,” the documents said.
The proposed ranch will have a lodge comprising the main building and a few free standing guest units. The main lodge will consist of four guest bedrooms and other facilities.
The documents listed local company, Popa Group (Pty) Ltd as an interested party in the project. Various parties of the project declined any comments..
The government has prioritized farms owned by foreign absentee landlords for the resettlement of landless Namibians.
In addition, he plans to buy an extra 18 000 ha to bring the total to 46 000 ha of land near Namibian village of Dordabis in the Khomas Region which he will develop into a game ranch. This contradicts recent government sentiments of acquiring land from absentee landlords and stopping foreigners from buying land in Namibia.
The government has the right of first refusal when land is sold and it could not be established whether the State had been offered and rejected the land targeted by the Russian.
Sardarov, through his company Comsar Properties SA, has so far bought farms with a combined 28 000 ha and has applied to the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to buy a further 18 000 ha.
A reasonable sized farm in Namibia would be around 5 000 to 7 000 ha but that also depends on the region in which it is situated. A farm with good carrying capacity in Omaheke Region, for example, can size around 3 000 per ha while in the south of Namibia, farms are generally bigger because of the low carrying capacity.
According to documents submitted as part of the Environment Impact Assessment study the intended Marula Game Ranch will be established on Farm Coas No. 501, 70 km south-east of Windhoek.
Sardarov is the chairman and founder of Comsar Energy Group and South-Ural Industrial Company (SUIC), both of which are large private companies in Russia, with presence in several countries in Eastern Europe.
The assets of the companies amount to US$2,2 billion, according to the SUIC website.
“The Marula Game Ranch is being developed as a unique game ranch and will be the only ranch situated in close proximity to a major urban centre (Windhoek),” Sardarov and Comsar stated in the documents.
Sardarov's plan is to buy the land in phases. He bought three farms measuring about 28 000 ha during 2012-2013, and intends to purchase the other four smaller farms measuring 18 000 ha this year once the approval from the Minister of Lands and Resettlement has been obtained.
Documents show that there are currently over 7 000 game of different species on the ranch, which were purchased at around N$72 million.
“Sardarov has a passion and love for nature and wildlife, particularly the pristine ecosystem of Namibia,” the documents said.
The proposed ranch will have a lodge comprising the main building and a few free standing guest units. The main lodge will consist of four guest bedrooms and other facilities.
The documents listed local company, Popa Group (Pty) Ltd as an interested party in the project. Various parties of the project declined any comments..
The government has prioritized farms owned by foreign absentee landlords for the resettlement of landless Namibians.
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