Govt accused of ethnic 'cleansing'

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) says the Namibian government is engaging in what it calls “ethnic exclusion and ethnic cleansing through social engineering” and that President Hage Geingob has “created a wall” against the movement to suppress its views.

One of its members, Seth !Nowaseb, says while the government is “pretending” that the country is unified, there are strong tribal and ethnic undercurrents used since independence to “reward” certain groups while excluding others.

He says this can be clearly observed from top jobs in government ministries, agencies and offices, as well as study bursaries that are “90%” granted to one particular ethnic group.

This, the LPM says, is also evident in allocations of farmland and urban land.

“This is dangerous and we appeal to President Geingob to deal with tribalism in the government,” !Nowaseb said at a press briefing of the LPM in Katutura yesterday.

He added: “While some people are eating from the high table others are fighting for crumbs.”

The group claims that city councillors in Windhoek are “targeting” Damara, Nama and Ovaherero groups in evictions and “random removals”.

Pastor Isak Kharob of Okahandja Park, an informal settlement in Windhoek, claims that land allocations there were done “corruptly” in favour of a certain tribal group to the detriment of others.

Diana Geingos from Karibib says a number of landless people have illegally occupied land because the town's municipality refused to give land to people who were born there.

“We will not vote if we cannot get land,” says Geingos.

Rebekka Vleermuis from Stampriet says farmworkers who have lost their jobs are dumped at the village with their livestock depleting and no livelihoods. She proposed that the government request land from surrounding farmers for former farmworkers.

“We do not want war. What we are asking is a piece of land in peace. We want ancestral land back in peace,” says Vleermuis.

A former farmworker, Isack !Nowaseb, says he had 150 goats when he lost his job on Farm Debalt in the Omaheke Region. He says he now has only three goats left after having been dumped at Gobabis.

!Nowaseb says he requested Omaheke governor Festus Ueitele to consider him for resettlement, but he claims the governor said that he had “no land for Damara or San in my pocket”.

According to !Nowaseb the governor said only those from Katima Mulilo or Eiseb Block with at least 800 cattle and 80 goats would be considered for resettlement in Omaheke.

“The government has started the resettlement programme to help the poor. What rule is there that states to acquire land one has to have so many animals? If this is the case how will the government deal with the issue of poverty?” !Nowaseb wanted to know.

Ueitele denied all the allegations made by !Nowaseb, saying: “How can he claim that I have said something like that? I am not mad!”

Ueitele added that as chairperson of the Omaheke Land Board he is strictly guided by the policies and regulations of that body.

“At no point would I have said there is no land for certain groups,” he reiterated, adding that the land board is made up of chiefs from all tribes.

“People cannot approach me for resettlement. They can apply only if farms are advertised and then there are conditions. They cannot come to me and ask for farms. I do not have farms to give and at no stage would I have said that people from Katima Mulilo can apply. I am responsible for the upliftment of the lives of people of Omaheke,” said Ueitele.



Lpm prepares for land conference

The LPM also reported on meetings it had held in Kunene, //Karas, Erongo, Omaheke, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Khomas, where it said the movement was growing in stature because of concern over questionable land allocations.

It held regional meetings in preparation of the second national land conference this September.

The LPM plans to hold its own “people's land conference” in Windhoek from 13 to 17 September, preceding the national conference.

Henny Seibeb was appointed as the chairperson of the LPM's land conference. One of his mandates is to invite local communities, as well as indigenous and peasant movements from around the globe.



Lamenting 'Non-Engagement' by Mlr

The LPM says it is worrisome that the Ministry of Land Reform has yet to hold consultative meetings with communities across the country in preparation of the national land conference.

The group says the “non-engagement” by President Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, lands minister Utoni Nujoma, as well as Peter Amutenya, the permanent secretary in the lands ministry, is troubling.

It is of the opinion that the government has not yet done research in preparation for the upcoming conference, while the LPM has done considerable research and documentation.

“How do you then organise an all-inclusive conference without engaging critical stakeholders like LPM?” the group asked.

It appealed to President Geingob to appoint a joint committee of government agencies and civil society stakeholders, like the LPM, to research global and local alternatives to land reform in Namibia.



Criticises Lwf apology

The LPM further criticised the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) for issuing an apology for the 1904 to 1908 genocide and land dispossession without consultation with affected communities.

The LPM said local Lutheran churches should withdraw the apology and begin to engage with their congregants to encapsulate their sentiments about these matters.

It accused the Lutheran churches in Namibia as well as the Roman Catholic Church of having amassed large tracts of land through dispossessions and land grabs during the colonial period. It said the churches have since then continued to acquire land in urban and rural areas.

CATHERINE SASMAN