Halt land reform, says OTA
The OvaHerero Traditional Authority says the finalisation of the Land Bill can only be of real consequence is if it is done after the proposed second national conference, which must precede extensive consultations.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The paramount chief of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA), Vekuii Rukoro, has requested the minister of land reform, Utoni Nujoma, to extend the deadline for submissions on the proposed Land Bill until after the second national land conference, which is slated for September.
Rukoro further suggested that the ministry in the meantime place a moratorium on all land-reform procedures.
This would mean, he said, a suspension of the entire resettlement programme, putting on hold allocation of land parcels under customary law by traditional authorities and regional land boards, and the suspension of the government’s purchasing of land for resettlement purposes.
Nujoma had determined that public and stakeholder submissions to the Land Bill must be made before 15 January.
Rukoro and the OTA, however, have expressed reservations over the rushed handling of the Land Bill, saying that the land question was a “very sensitive issue with social, economic and political dimensions which warrants a careful approach and strategies to address the past, current and future imbalances”.
The OTA said in its letter to Nujoma on 9 January that the 15 January deadline was too short and did not allow enough time for considered inputs, since the bill was introduced shortly before the Christmas festive season.
It said the persistent drought which had left commercial and communal farmers battling to stay afloat did not allow stakeholders sufficient opportunity to devise inputs at village and national level.
The OTA said ample time must be given for proper consultations before the national land conference. Finalising the Land Bill before this conference would neither yield the desired results nor justify the expense of holding the conference.
The group proposed extensive consultations at grassroots level long before the conference.
“Subsequently the finalisation of the Land Bill will become relevant as those learning experiences, inputs and ideas will form the basis of consensus formulation and adaptation of resolutions to the final Land Bill,” the authority said.
The paramount chief of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA), Vekuii Rukoro, has requested the minister of land reform, Utoni Nujoma, to extend the deadline for submissions on the proposed Land Bill until after the second national land conference, which is slated for September.
Rukoro further suggested that the ministry in the meantime place a moratorium on all land-reform procedures.
This would mean, he said, a suspension of the entire resettlement programme, putting on hold allocation of land parcels under customary law by traditional authorities and regional land boards, and the suspension of the government’s purchasing of land for resettlement purposes.
Nujoma had determined that public and stakeholder submissions to the Land Bill must be made before 15 January.
Rukoro and the OTA, however, have expressed reservations over the rushed handling of the Land Bill, saying that the land question was a “very sensitive issue with social, economic and political dimensions which warrants a careful approach and strategies to address the past, current and future imbalances”.
The OTA said in its letter to Nujoma on 9 January that the 15 January deadline was too short and did not allow enough time for considered inputs, since the bill was introduced shortly before the Christmas festive season.
It said the persistent drought which had left commercial and communal farmers battling to stay afloat did not allow stakeholders sufficient opportunity to devise inputs at village and national level.
The OTA said ample time must be given for proper consultations before the national land conference. Finalising the Land Bill before this conference would neither yield the desired results nor justify the expense of holding the conference.
The group proposed extensive consultations at grassroots level long before the conference.
“Subsequently the finalisation of the Land Bill will become relevant as those learning experiences, inputs and ideas will form the basis of consensus formulation and adaptation of resolutions to the final Land Bill,” the authority said.
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