By Renthia Kaimbi
The Daure Daman Traditional Authority has formally objected to the leasehold application submitted by ultimate.earth, formerly known as Ultimate Safaris, for a vast tract of communal land in the Kunene Region.
In a letter dated 23 June 2026 to the Kunene Communal Land Board, the traditional authority maintained its opposition to the application, raising concerns about the consultation process and the conduct of the tourism operator.
The objection comes amid a protracted legal and regulatory battle between ultimate.earth and Goantagab Tin Mine, a local mining operation that accuses the tourism company of anti-competitive behaviour.
The Daure Daman Traditional Authority initially objected to ultimate.earth’s leasehold application on 4 December 2025.
On 17 December 2025, the chairperson of the Kunene Communal Land Board, Immanuel Nawaseb, notified the traditional authority’s chairperson, Herman Naruseb, of the board’s decision to consider its objection.
“During its meeting, the Board considered your objection and noted the concerns raised, including issues of jurisdiction, the Joint Management Agreement with Ultimate Safaris, exclusive rights, development limitations, and the ongoing court case,” Nawaseb stated.
Central to the dispute is the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) between ultimate.earth and three conservancies, namely the Sorris Sorris, Doro Nawas, and Uibasen Twyfelfontein, which the traditional authority says grants the company exclusive rights and stifles other economic activities.
“The Board noted that Traditional Authority boundaries are not clearly defined, which makes it difficult to confirm jurisdiction claims. It was also noted that a piece of land on one of the proposed leasehold areas overlaps into Sorris Sorris conservancy. The Board therefore resolved that consent from the Sorris Sorris conservancy must be obtained, or that the overlapping portion be removed from the application,” Nawaseb further stated.
Ultimate.earth allegedly operates the Onduli Ridge luxury camp without a leasehold in the Sorris Sorris conservancy, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Daure Daman Traditional Authority.
Former chief of the Daure Daman, Zacharias Seibeb, has been vocal in his opposition to the lack of a leasehold and the exclusive arrangements, calling for coexistence between tourism and mining.
Before he was degazetted in October 2025, he argued that the community stood to benefit more from the job creation potential of mining and that ultimate.earth is operating on communal land without a leasehold in violation of the Communal Land Reform Act.
The traditional authority has consistently maintained that proper consultation with all affected parties, including themselves, was not conducted before the leasehold application was submitted to the board.
The dispute over the JMA has also drawn the attention of the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC), which has been investigating the anti-competitive agreements.
The commission initially instructed ultimate.earth to cease the conduct of exclusive agreements and declared the Joint Management Area unlawful.
According to documentation obtained by the Windhoek Observer, ultimate.earth requested a 90-day extension to respond to the investigation in May 2026, though the commission confirmed the investigation into the tourism operator’s anti-competitive conduct remains ongoing.
The traditional authority’s objection to the leasehold application highlights the NaCC’s resolution that the JMA ought to be dissolved, raising concerns about the legal basis for the application.
In the letter to the Kunene Communal Land Board, Naruseb has reiterated that the application should not proceed in its present form and that proper resolution of disputes and lawful consultation with all affected stakeholders are necessary.
“The Daure Daman Traditional Authority maintains its objection to the leasehold application in its current form and reiterates its concerns as previously communicated to the Board,” he maintained.
“The traditional authority is further concerned about the conduct of the so-called investors, Ultimate Safaris (now ultimate.earth), particularly their failure to resolve disputes through dialogue and their decision to resort to court proceedings against other affected parties.”
The communal land board has given the traditional authority until 30 June 2026 to submit information and supporting documents related to evidence of the NaCC ruling, the JMA which states exclusive rights, and any documents relating to the ongoing court case between ultimate.earth and Goantagab Tin Mine.
The submissions, it said, will enable the Board to consider the matter further and make an informed decision, after it previously put the leasehold application on hold in December 2025.
The traditional authority said it remains open to engaging constructively with the board and all relevant stakeholders to find a fair, lawful, and sustainable outcome that accommodates both tourism and mining interests in the area.
