Land conference a 'gimmick' - AR
The Affirmative Repositioning Movement has expressed doubt that anything meaningful will come from the planned second national land conference, calling it a gimmick.
The AR yesterday said the government had negotiated in bad faith before, suggesting that no meaningful resolutions would be implemented.
“Unlike other stakeholders who view the envisaged land conference as somewhat [like] Christmas where Santa Claus will arrive with a bowl of land and housing, our experience with and government's record of negotiating in bad faith places us on the side of extreme caution as we approach this land conference. Our understanding is that conferences and policies do not have the force of law,” AR said in a statement.
Making reference to the first land conference held in 1991, the AR said even if there was intent to repatriate land, the constitution made provision for the protection of ownership rights.
“Looked at closely, this conference may just be another political gimmick like the 1991 land conference where the political elites, after accepting the property clause in the constitution, went on to convene a conference while knowing very well that the fate of the land question has been sealed by the constitution,” it said.
Despite raising concerns about the land conference, the AR said it attend the planned conference and engage other activists to consolidate views and present a strong enough case.
“Despite our reservations, we will still participate in the land conference to not only present superior logic but to give the regime the benefit of doubt. We will, however, not go into the conference blindly. We will begin conversations with other activists, stakeholders, land and housing groups to consolidate the national land collective.”
Corruption fight
The AR also said it would be upping the ante in the fight against corruption with the planned establishment of an institution that would mimic the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
According to them, many Namibians were now reporting cases of corruption to the AR movement instead of the ACC.
AR's legal team was now establishing a similar institution.
“Most Namibians prefer to approach AR in order for their concerns to be taken seriously. In response to this reality, the AR legal team has been hard at work creating an institution that will have a legal mandate and institutional capacity to deal with prosecutorial and litigation matters,” it claimed.
OGONE TLHAGE
The AR yesterday said the government had negotiated in bad faith before, suggesting that no meaningful resolutions would be implemented.
“Unlike other stakeholders who view the envisaged land conference as somewhat [like] Christmas where Santa Claus will arrive with a bowl of land and housing, our experience with and government's record of negotiating in bad faith places us on the side of extreme caution as we approach this land conference. Our understanding is that conferences and policies do not have the force of law,” AR said in a statement.
Making reference to the first land conference held in 1991, the AR said even if there was intent to repatriate land, the constitution made provision for the protection of ownership rights.
“Looked at closely, this conference may just be another political gimmick like the 1991 land conference where the political elites, after accepting the property clause in the constitution, went on to convene a conference while knowing very well that the fate of the land question has been sealed by the constitution,” it said.
Despite raising concerns about the land conference, the AR said it attend the planned conference and engage other activists to consolidate views and present a strong enough case.
“Despite our reservations, we will still participate in the land conference to not only present superior logic but to give the regime the benefit of doubt. We will, however, not go into the conference blindly. We will begin conversations with other activists, stakeholders, land and housing groups to consolidate the national land collective.”
Corruption fight
The AR also said it would be upping the ante in the fight against corruption with the planned establishment of an institution that would mimic the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
According to them, many Namibians were now reporting cases of corruption to the AR movement instead of the ACC.
AR's legal team was now establishing a similar institution.
“Most Namibians prefer to approach AR in order for their concerns to be taken seriously. In response to this reality, the AR legal team has been hard at work creating an institution that will have a legal mandate and institutional capacity to deal with prosecutorial and litigation matters,” it claimed.
OGONE TLHAGE
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