Govt against ancestral land claims

The minister of land reform, Utoni Nujoma, says the government will not entertain any talk about ancestral land, because that would promote Bantustans and tribalism.Nujoma yesterday emphasised that the Land Bill would be reintroduced in the National Assembly when it resumed next month.“Don't forget we had been fighting for the independence for this country and ancestral land claims are based on Bantustans which we fought against persistently and consistently. “So let it be very clear to you who think this government will succumb to reintroduce tribalism and Bantustans,” Nujoma told ministerial staff.Bantustans were territories in Namibia and South Africa that were designated for the majority black population as part of the apartheid system.The apartheid regime had divided the black population according to ethnic groups or tribes and assigned them to separate regions, which were considered ethnic homelands.The minister emphasised that the land resettlement process was transparent, but could not confirm whether a list of beneficiaries would be made available to the public. “The newspapers are invited to cover the handing-over ceremonies, so it is transparent. You will be surprised when you get the list.“The media have alleged that people from the north are resettled, but the people from the San community and people from the //Karas and Khomas regions have been resettled. And those farmworkers who had been farming in corridors after independence,” he said. This is despite claims by farmers in the //Karas and Hardap regions that they are being overlooked while people from the northern and north-eastern regions are resettled in the south. Land BillOpposition parties and land activists have threatened to stage protest marches if the Land Bill is re-tabled in the National Assembly before consultations and the holding of the second land conference. The bill was withdrawn following a barrage of complaints that it was riddled with shortcomings.The government is expected to hold the second land conference in September.Opposition parties have particularly questioned how the bill in its current form intends to address the issue of dispossession in a way that makes historical sense.Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua said the bill was riddled with inconsistencies and did not address the plight of descendants of genocide victims or the issue of ancestral land.However, Nujoma yesterday made it clear that ancestral land claims were denounced during the 1991 land conference in order to promote national unity.Residents of the two southern regions claim that the land reform process is skewed and needs to be reformed. They have particularly shown support to former lands deputy minister Bernadus Swartbooi, who was fired after criticising Nujoma in public over the handling of the land resettlement process.Under the banner, 'Progressive Landless Namibians', groupings have planned to host mass land protest meetings to voice their frustrations. These meetings are scheduled to take place at Keetmanshoop and Maltahöhe. Swartbooi is expected to be a main speaker. Land conference The minister said the land conference would be budgeted for, provided the ministry received sufficient funds from the treasury.He also rejected calls by communities to delay the tabling of the Land Bill until after the land conference. According to him, the bill has been “over-consulted” already. He also accused local community leaders and opposition politicians of “making noise” but failing to submit input for the bill. Land delivery According to Nujoma his ministry has managed to acquire 22 farms measuring 140 000 hectares at a total cost of N$187 million. It had planned to acquire 98 000 hectares in the financial year 2016/17. He added that purchases of three farms measuring 10 000 hectares were pending at a cost of N$17 million. The ministry has managed to resettle 78 beneficiaries this financial year. Nujoma added that 260 000 hectares of land had been developed with 811km of fencing, 18 kraals, 30 new boreholes drilled, 35 boreholes rehabilitated and 98km of water pipelines installed. This was done with the financial assistance of the European Union, GIZ and the KFW. “These infrastructural developments will benefit about 7 800 members of farming households in communal areas. “The development of 105 000 hectares of communal land is expected for the next financial year. These developments will include the construction of four handling kraals and the drilling and installation of 25 boreholes,” he said. JEMIMA BEUKES

Govt against ancestral land claims

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Govt against ancestral land claims

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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