Geingob admits to resettlement mess

President Hage Geingob has admitted that the national resettlement policy has not been consistently applied to benefit previously disadvantaged, landless and poor Namibians. Geingob said this while opening the second national land conference in Windhoek this morning. “We are aware that the resettlement criteria have not been consistently applied. People who do not meet the minimum criteria have been resettled and provided post-resettlement support,” he said. “This undermines our objectives of achieving equity and social justice. We should use resettlement as an instrument to enable those previously disposed to access land. Any resettlement farm purchased should have due consideration to the landless, poor and vulnerable.” Touching on the contentious issue of ancestral land claims, Geingob said claims for restitution were discussed at the first national land conference in 1991. “However the subject raised acrimonious debate and no consensus could be reached, given the complexity of redressing ancestral land claims.”

STAFF REPORTER