Government hands over Farm Alpha and Fiesta units to ease land pressure in Omaheke
Long-standing commitment
Tuyeimo HaidulaONDANGWA
Government has officially handed over Farm Alpha No. 628 and units C and D of Farm Fiesta No. 440 in the Omaheke region, marking a significant step in efforts to decongest communal areas and strengthen land reform.
The announcement was made on Monday by agriculture and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani during a ceremony at Aminuis.
Farm Alpha, measuring 6 767 hectares, has been incorporated into the Aminuis communal area following a presidential directive issued seven years ago by late President Hage Geingob.
Zaamwani said the handover fulfils a long-standing commitment to relieve grazing pressure in the constituency, as resolved at the second national land conference and reinforced in the Swapo Party Manifesto and NDP6.
She emphasised that the farm must benefit all communities of Aminuis, cautioning traditional authorities against allocating the land in a manner that favours specific groups.
“Farm Alpha must benefit all communities irrespective of cultural orientation. No single authority must privatise it,” she said.
Farm Fiesta
Zaamwani also handed over units C and D of Farm Fiesta to corridor farmers who have struggled for years with livestock losses and lack of grazing.
Unit C, measuring 1 776 hectares, can sustain 133 large-stock units, while Unit D, covering 1 283 hectares, can accommodate 96 large-stock units. Both units will be shared equally by beneficiaries.
Zaamwani said the Fiesta handover comes after growing frustration from farmers in Kalahari, Witvlei and other areas, whose livestock often wander into roads or congested corridors due to the lack of land. She urged new beneficiaries to utilise the land responsibly, avoid overstocking and work together to ensure sustainable production.
While acknowledging progress, she said more must be done to address the plight of landless communities, including the Dordabis community, Ovazemba groups in Kamanjab, San families in Oshikoto, and Namibians who returned from Botswana and are still housed at the Gam reception centre.
She also noted the need to expand the /Khomanin communal area and regularise situations of farmers grazing in neighbouring countries.
Zaamwani appealed to commercial farm owners-particularly those in Kunene, Oshikoto, Khomas, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke to offer land for acquisition.
She also called out absentee landlords who leave productive farms idle, turning them into holiday retreats.
“The land reform agenda is a Namibian agenda, and only we can address it,” she said.
Government has officially handed over Farm Alpha No. 628 and units C and D of Farm Fiesta No. 440 in the Omaheke region, marking a significant step in efforts to decongest communal areas and strengthen land reform.
The announcement was made on Monday by agriculture and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani during a ceremony at Aminuis.
Farm Alpha, measuring 6 767 hectares, has been incorporated into the Aminuis communal area following a presidential directive issued seven years ago by late President Hage Geingob.
Zaamwani said the handover fulfils a long-standing commitment to relieve grazing pressure in the constituency, as resolved at the second national land conference and reinforced in the Swapo Party Manifesto and NDP6.
She emphasised that the farm must benefit all communities of Aminuis, cautioning traditional authorities against allocating the land in a manner that favours specific groups.
“Farm Alpha must benefit all communities irrespective of cultural orientation. No single authority must privatise it,” she said.
Farm Fiesta
Zaamwani also handed over units C and D of Farm Fiesta to corridor farmers who have struggled for years with livestock losses and lack of grazing.
Unit C, measuring 1 776 hectares, can sustain 133 large-stock units, while Unit D, covering 1 283 hectares, can accommodate 96 large-stock units. Both units will be shared equally by beneficiaries.
Zaamwani said the Fiesta handover comes after growing frustration from farmers in Kalahari, Witvlei and other areas, whose livestock often wander into roads or congested corridors due to the lack of land. She urged new beneficiaries to utilise the land responsibly, avoid overstocking and work together to ensure sustainable production.
While acknowledging progress, she said more must be done to address the plight of landless communities, including the Dordabis community, Ovazemba groups in Kamanjab, San families in Oshikoto, and Namibians who returned from Botswana and are still housed at the Gam reception centre.
She also noted the need to expand the /Khomanin communal area and regularise situations of farmers grazing in neighbouring countries.
Zaamwani appealed to commercial farm owners-particularly those in Kunene, Oshikoto, Khomas, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke to offer land for acquisition.
She also called out absentee landlords who leave productive farms idle, turning them into holiday retreats.
“The land reform agenda is a Namibian agenda, and only we can address it,” she said.
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