No patience for corruption
So the Swapo leadership has finally pronounced itself on the contentious debate of ancestral land claims, highlighting that no one has an exclusive right to any resources in the country.
The comments by Swapo top administrator Nangolo Mbumba following the holding of the politburo meeting on Monday appears to confirm the position of government on this issue. Rightly so, Swapo, also believes that Namibians should be allowed to be resettled anywhere provided they meet requirements, in addition to utilising the land productively.
The Landless People's Movement will probably not agree with Mbumba and land activists will certainly try to poke holes in his statement. During a media briefing on the outcome of the politburo meeting, Mbumba pleaded with Namibians, especially the youth, to be patient over the land issue.
While Swapo probably sees this is an impassionate plea to calm down emotions, others will see this as an illustration that the party doesn't seem to have any workable solutions to resolve the land question in the country.
Organised groups such as the Landless People's Movement and the Job Amupanda-led Affirmative Repositioning Movement have not only questioned the intensity of the land reform programme, but have highlighted the questionable allocation of resettlement farms, as well as urban land, to those who are either politically well connected or already part of the political power base.
This is what Swapo is not addressing at the moment, which only leads to frustration on the part of those who feel hard done by.
The debate about ancestral land can wait to be fully unpacked at the second land conference, given the due diligence and thoroughness that must be taken into consideration to handle this sensitive issue. But it is unfair for Swapo to tell people to wait, presumably until the land conference takes place, for government to address the alleged corruption plaguing the land resettlement process, and by extension, also the allocation of serviced plots in urban areas.
The Swapo leadership must step out of its cocoon and demonstrate leadership when it matters most, otherwise its commitment to fighting corruption will forever be questioned.
The comments by Swapo top administrator Nangolo Mbumba following the holding of the politburo meeting on Monday appears to confirm the position of government on this issue. Rightly so, Swapo, also believes that Namibians should be allowed to be resettled anywhere provided they meet requirements, in addition to utilising the land productively.
The Landless People's Movement will probably not agree with Mbumba and land activists will certainly try to poke holes in his statement. During a media briefing on the outcome of the politburo meeting, Mbumba pleaded with Namibians, especially the youth, to be patient over the land issue.
While Swapo probably sees this is an impassionate plea to calm down emotions, others will see this as an illustration that the party doesn't seem to have any workable solutions to resolve the land question in the country.
Organised groups such as the Landless People's Movement and the Job Amupanda-led Affirmative Repositioning Movement have not only questioned the intensity of the land reform programme, but have highlighted the questionable allocation of resettlement farms, as well as urban land, to those who are either politically well connected or already part of the political power base.
This is what Swapo is not addressing at the moment, which only leads to frustration on the part of those who feel hard done by.
The debate about ancestral land can wait to be fully unpacked at the second land conference, given the due diligence and thoroughness that must be taken into consideration to handle this sensitive issue. But it is unfair for Swapo to tell people to wait, presumably until the land conference takes place, for government to address the alleged corruption plaguing the land resettlement process, and by extension, also the allocation of serviced plots in urban areas.
The Swapo leadership must step out of its cocoon and demonstrate leadership when it matters most, otherwise its commitment to fighting corruption will forever be questioned.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article