'Dagga' farm with Meatco links up for sale for N$34.9m
A farm linked to a N$52 million cannabis plantation and the disappearance of hundreds of cattle belonging to the Meat Corporation of Namibia better known as Meatco, is now heading to auction, with a market value set at N$34.9 million.
The property, identified as Farm Eendrag near Hochfeld in the Okahandja district, gained national attention after it was linked to a massive illegal cannabis plantation and the alleged presence of hundreds of cattle belonging to the Meat Corporation of Namibia.
Reports from 2025 and early 2026 indicate that the farm, managed by David van der Linden, housed a 1.55-hectare cannabis plantation concealed among other crops. The plantation was valued at approximately N$52 million.
The scandal deepened when it emerged that between 200 and 400 Meatco cattle, estimated at around N$7 million, were kept on the farm. The animals were reportedly left unattended after the farm manager’s arrest in May 2025, with some allegedly dying of hunger.
In a related development, Johannes Kamati, 61, was granted bail of N$50 000 by the High Court in December last year after successfully appealing a decision by the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court, which had initially denied him bail.
Kamati was arrested alongside Armand Schultz and South African national Van der Linden in connection with the cannabis operation. Police reportedly discovered 52 parcels of cannabis in a vehicle driven by Kamati, leading them to the farm.
Investigations were further intensified after it was revealed that close to 1 000 cattle belonging to Meatco had disappeared from the property.
According to a valuation report conducted on behalf of Bank Windhoek, the remainder of Farm Eendrag No. 374 is situated in the Otjozondjupa Region under registration division “D” and is zoned for agricultural use.
The farm spans 4 897.3859 hectares and is described as a feedlot, irrigation, and cattle operation with good-quality accommodation. The valuation, conducted on 16 April 2026 following an inspection on 15 April 2026, indicates stable market conditions.
The property features an 84,000m² feedlot facility capable of handling approximately 5 000 cattle. The facility includes 40 feeding lots, each equipped with water points, as well as a reinforced storage and fodder shed, water reservoir, and loading bay.
Water supply on the farm is sourced from 10 installed boreholes, supplemented by seven additional boreholes, with depths ranging between 40 and 90 metres. The system feeds multiple reservoirs, tanks, and a dam used for irrigation, ensuring consistent water availability for livestock and agricultural activities.
The farm is divided into 28 internal camps and is enclosed by a combination of stock-proof and game-proof fencing, with sections reinforced by electrified lines.
In a promotional video, Alex McDonald of Nam Agri Properties said the farm and loose goods will be sold separately, with full auction details provided at the end of the video.
He highlighted that the property benefits from full MTC network coverage, including reliable 4G LTE connectivity, which enhances logistics, coordination and daily communication across operations.
McDonald said the farm includes an older farmhouse with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a butchery facility and office space, as well as a 300-square-metre workshop, steel structures and extensive workers’ accommodation. A second dwelling offers three bedrooms with open-plan living and an entertainment area, alongside a separate one-bedroom flat.
Describing the location as established commercial farming country, he noted the surrounding farms and said the land is proven for agricultural production, with grazing for livestock, arable sections for crops and irrigation, and terrain that provides clear visibility across the operation.
On water supply, he said the farm is equipped with an irrigation dam, five zinc reservoirs, 30 PVC tanks and 10 productive boreholes supplying the entire operation.
He further pointed to a 2 000-square-metre fodder shed providing secure storage and handling space, integrated with an 84 000-square-metre feedlot featuring modern pens and handling facilities designed for efficiency.
“The layout is designed for maximum efficiency. This is not hobby farming, but a serious finishing operation,” he said, adding that the farm is divided into 28 inner camps suitable for intensive farming.
McDonald said the property is supported by solar pumps, windmills and electric submersible systems, ensuring water supply even during dry periods, along with three-phase NamPower electricity and a diesel generator backup.
He described the farm as a fully integrated agricultural operation, combining feedlot capacity, grazing, water infrastructure and accommodation across nearly 5 000 hectares.
A waiver allowing the sale of the farm has been granted by the Namibian government, with international investors permitted to participate.
According to McDonald, the online-only auction for the farm will run from 27 April to 4 May 2026, while the loose goods auction will run from 27 April to 8 May 2026. Two viewing days were scheduled for 17 and 24 April 2026 at the farm.
