Rundu: Once a familiar voice in the council chambers of Rundu, former Rundu councillor Mathew Wakudumo has swapped political debate for the quiet rhythm of the mahangu fields. The former councillor, who served under the banner of the All People's Party, now rises with the sun to tend to a 50-hectare mahangu field in Utokota village in the Mashare Constituency of the Kavango East Region.
According to Namibia Press Agency, now a pensioner, Wakudumo told Nampa life after politics has brought him back to his roots, and closer to the soil. He described the transition from public office to farming as grounding and deeply fulfilling, offering him a renewed sense of purpose through working the land. "Working the land gives you purpose," he said, standing on the family's expansive mahangu field, where green stalks stretch toward the horizon.
While he has stepped away from active politics, Wakudumo remains vocal on development issues, particularly in agriculture. His focus now is agriculture and the untapped potential he believes lies in local farmers. Wakudumo called on officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform and the Prime Minister's Office to broaden the scope of their regional visits instead of concentrating solely on government-run green schemes. Leaders, he said, should also engage high-performing communal farmers working quietly but effectively on the ground. "Recognising and supporting farmers like us, financially or otherwise, could significantly strengthen food production and rural livelihoods in the region," he said.
His message also extended beyond policymakers, to those approaching retirement, where he offers advice to them to not sit idle if they have land. "Work it and add value to it," he said. The Wakudumo family's harvest tells a story of steady growth. In 2024, they produced 630 bags of mahangu from their 50 hectares while in 2025, they harvested 570 bags. This year, their ambition is even higher as they are aiming for at least 900 bags.
The farm is also a source of employment as Wakudumo has three permanent workers, while planting and weeding seasons create jobs for more than 100 casual labourers. Wakudumo emphasised that farming is capital-intensive, especially when self-funded. He told this news agency his family purchased a tractor and implements out of pocket. Their next major hurdle is relocating a pump station to an area closer to the Kavango River, which is estimated to cost about N.dollars 4.9 million. Accessing loans, he added, remains another uphill battle, even with what he describes as a bankable business plan.
When it comes to selling their harvest, the family prefers private buyers, citing dissatisfaction with prices offered by the Agro Marketing and Trade Agency. Last year, 90 per cent of their produce was bought by a businessman from northern Namibia. Wakudumo believes government could further empower local farmers by awarding tenders to them to supply food for school feeding programmes, rather than transporting maize meal from distant towns such as Otjiwarongo.
Meanwhile, Senior Public Relations Officer Simon Nghipandulwa said the ministry's primary role is policy formulation, while institutions like the Namibian Agronomic Board help farmers coordinate production. He added that government offers programmes such as rain-fed subsidy schemes and horticulture value chain initiatives, which farmers are encouraged to explore. Mashare constituency councillor Petrus Kashumali acknowledged the Wakudumo family's efforts, noting that the land has even greater potential if reliable water access is secured. "With modern agriculture, this field can produce more," Kashumali said. He revealed that government plans to extend a water pipeline to Kayengona village in the Rundu Rural constituency and expressed hope that it could eventually reach parts of Mashare, bringing much-needed water closer to farmers.
For Wakudumo, however, the mission remains simple and deeply personal, to help make his village food secure, one harvest at a time.