Land: we cannot shy away
The land question has remained at the centre of our socio-economic and political debates for many years and land reform in Namibia is still having major problems.
For many, it represents a ticking time-bomb and there comes a time when Namibians will run out of patience due to the unresolved land issue, which can become cancerous. While the Namibian parliament has blocked numerous debates on this very important topic, their counterparts in South Africa have voted to amend property clauses in that country’s constitution to pave way for the government’s policy of acquiring land without compensation. The motion, brought by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, was adopted with a vote of 241 in support, and 83 against, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) throwing its full weight behind the move. This signifies a strong intent on the part of South Africa politicians, who see the need to address equitable access to land urgently without destabilising the agricultural sector, without endangering food security in the country and without undermining economic growth and job creation. It is extremely laughable when our MPs, who are expected to serve the interests of thousands of landless Namibians, simply shoot down attempts to discuss land-related issues in the August House. This is poor leadership. The land question is critical and a topic we simply cannot shy away from. It cannot be business as usual when absentee landlords are allowed to own large tracts of land in the country, while the natives who have lost untold acres of land during white rule, are without a place to call home. We are even struggling to organise a national land conference for Pete’s sake. The national land conference should come up with a favourable land distribution policy, as a means to tackle poverty and economic inequality in our country. Our people cannot just be bystanders of economic activity. They too are prepared to work the land. The economy and land must belong to all who live in Namibia, not just to a selected few elite.
For many, it represents a ticking time-bomb and there comes a time when Namibians will run out of patience due to the unresolved land issue, which can become cancerous. While the Namibian parliament has blocked numerous debates on this very important topic, their counterparts in South Africa have voted to amend property clauses in that country’s constitution to pave way for the government’s policy of acquiring land without compensation. The motion, brought by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, was adopted with a vote of 241 in support, and 83 against, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) throwing its full weight behind the move. This signifies a strong intent on the part of South Africa politicians, who see the need to address equitable access to land urgently without destabilising the agricultural sector, without endangering food security in the country and without undermining economic growth and job creation. It is extremely laughable when our MPs, who are expected to serve the interests of thousands of landless Namibians, simply shoot down attempts to discuss land-related issues in the August House. This is poor leadership. The land question is critical and a topic we simply cannot shy away from. It cannot be business as usual when absentee landlords are allowed to own large tracts of land in the country, while the natives who have lost untold acres of land during white rule, are without a place to call home. We are even struggling to organise a national land conference for Pete’s sake. The national land conference should come up with a favourable land distribution policy, as a means to tackle poverty and economic inequality in our country. Our people cannot just be bystanders of economic activity. They too are prepared to work the land. The economy and land must belong to all who live in Namibia, not just to a selected few elite.
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Namibian Sun
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