PDM, Russian oligarch fight climaxing
High Court Judge Orben Sibeya will deliver his judgement on a Popular Democratic Movement application to set aside the government’s decision to lease four farms to Russian billionaire Rashid Sardarov in August.
After hearing oral arguments from advocates Jean Marais on behalf of the PDM, Gerson Hinda on behalf of the government and Wim Trengove on behalf of Comsar Properties SA [Sardarov’s Switzerlandbased company], judge Sibeya will deliver his judgement on 15 August.
PDM is asking the court to set aside the 2018 government decision to lease four farms measuring a combined 17 385 1002 hectares to the Russian billionaire for 99 years. They are asking the court to interdict Comsar from commencing or proceeding or instructing anyone to commence or proceed with any developments on the farms in question.
In the main relief sought, the PDM is asking the court to set aside the decision by the minister of lands to lease the farms to Sardarov for 99 years. They further want the court to evict Comsar from the properties, and declare the scheme devised by the minister and Comsar through which the government became the owner of the said farms and lease it to Comsar, as unlawful.
The official opposition party in the National Assembly furthermore wants the court to direct the minister of lands to allot the farms for resettlement purposes.
According to PDM, the minister acted outside his powers when he leased the farms to Sardarov.
The farms in question include Farm Rianhof, Farm Kameelboom, Portion C of Farm Smaldeel and Farm Wolffgrund. All the farms are situated near Dordabis, southeast of Windhoek and adjacent to his already sprawling estate, Marula Game Reserve.