Pohamba calls for land referendum

Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba has called for the abolishment of the willing-buyer, willing-seller land redistribution policy in order to fast-track land reform. Pohamba, who is a former lands minister, also wants the nation to hold a referendum to amend the constitution in order to give the state more powers to take away land from absentee landlords. Pohamba said government must expropriate foreign-owned farms with fair compensation on developmental capital investment. Pohamba also cautioned against ancestral land claims, saying it will lead to division and civil strife in the country. “We don’t want to see bloodshed. We shed blood already,” he said.

STAFF REPORTER