Land reform meetings slammed
Uninvited activists say the process is shrouded in secrecy and exclusivity.
Land activists say the draft programme for consultative regional workshops in preparation of the anticipated second land conference in September is becoming a fig leaf.
The Ministry of Land Reform on 5 June sent out a draft programme of the schedule for the regional consultations that are to kick off on 10 June in Keetmanshoop for the //Karas Region.
Other dates are 12 June at Mariental (Hardap), 13 June in Windhoek (Khomas and Omaheke regions), 14 June in Otjiwarongo (Otjozondjupa and Erongo), 16 June in Rundu (Kavango East and Kavango West), 19 June in Katima Mulilo (Zambezi), 21 June in Outapi (Kunene and Omusati), and 23 June at Ongwediva (Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Oshana).
The meetings will be presided over by the permanent secretary in the lands ministry, Peter Amutenya, and the registrar of deeds in the //Karas and Hardap regions, Dana Beukes.
The deputy permanent secretary Esther Lusepani and director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata from the directorate of land reform, resettlement and regional programme implementation, will preside over the meetings in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.
The director of land reform and resettlement Petrus Nangolo will chair the meetings at Outapi and Ongwediva.
According to the programme of the Hardap Region leaked to some of the land activists, Kabbe Investments CC will present a draft review of the 2001 national resettlement policy.
Time allotted for this presentation is one hour and 15 minutes.
Only 50 minutes is allotted for “discussions and consultations” with invited participants.
“This is not consultative process let alone a workshop,” said land activist Sima Luipert. “The ministry calls this a policy review process, but how can you only engage people that you have selected?”
She said it appears from the programme that the consultations will only deal with resettlement instead of agrarian reform as was advised by President Hage Geingob.
Luipert further said that the draft review, which was prepared by Kabbe Investments has not been made public or circulated amongst workshop invitees, giving the impression that its contents are shrouded in secrecy.
Moreover, activists say it is not clear how participants to the consultations have been invited.
“The land issue is a very big thing that affects so many people, but it seems that mostly government people were invited. These consultative meetings are government consultations, not public consultations. These are selective and exclusive consultations,” said Luipert.
Catherine Sasman
The Ministry of Land Reform on 5 June sent out a draft programme of the schedule for the regional consultations that are to kick off on 10 June in Keetmanshoop for the //Karas Region.
Other dates are 12 June at Mariental (Hardap), 13 June in Windhoek (Khomas and Omaheke regions), 14 June in Otjiwarongo (Otjozondjupa and Erongo), 16 June in Rundu (Kavango East and Kavango West), 19 June in Katima Mulilo (Zambezi), 21 June in Outapi (Kunene and Omusati), and 23 June at Ongwediva (Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Oshana).
The meetings will be presided over by the permanent secretary in the lands ministry, Peter Amutenya, and the registrar of deeds in the //Karas and Hardap regions, Dana Beukes.
The deputy permanent secretary Esther Lusepani and director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata from the directorate of land reform, resettlement and regional programme implementation, will preside over the meetings in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.
The director of land reform and resettlement Petrus Nangolo will chair the meetings at Outapi and Ongwediva.
According to the programme of the Hardap Region leaked to some of the land activists, Kabbe Investments CC will present a draft review of the 2001 national resettlement policy.
Time allotted for this presentation is one hour and 15 minutes.
Only 50 minutes is allotted for “discussions and consultations” with invited participants.
“This is not consultative process let alone a workshop,” said land activist Sima Luipert. “The ministry calls this a policy review process, but how can you only engage people that you have selected?”
She said it appears from the programme that the consultations will only deal with resettlement instead of agrarian reform as was advised by President Hage Geingob.
Luipert further said that the draft review, which was prepared by Kabbe Investments has not been made public or circulated amongst workshop invitees, giving the impression that its contents are shrouded in secrecy.
Moreover, activists say it is not clear how participants to the consultations have been invited.
“The land issue is a very big thing that affects so many people, but it seems that mostly government people were invited. These consultative meetings are government consultations, not public consultations. These are selective and exclusive consultations,” said Luipert.
Catherine Sasman
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