Swapo elders ‘ignorant’
The Damara King’s Council says the Swapo Party Elders’ Council is not qualified to make statements on the “delicate and specialised subject matter” of ancestral land claims.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The Damara King’s Council has branded the Swapo Party Elders’ Council ignorant following its suggestion last week that resolutions on ancestral land claims should not implemented after the second national land conference.
SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana told journalists on Friday that delegates at the land conference should be allowed to debate the issue of ancestral land claims, but the resolutions taken should not be implemented.
In a hard-hitting statement yesterday, the secretary-general of the Damara King’s Council, Abner Xoagub, rubbished the opinion of the Swapo elders as insulting and grossly insensitive to land losses the Damara people have suffered.
The council also called for a judicial commission on restitution of land rights after the land conference has taken place next week.
“We maintain that SPEC is grossly ignorant or chooses to be ignorant of many possibilities that exist for restorative land reform measures which could be introduced for the benefit of those minority communities who lost their ancestral lands,” said Xoagub.
“There are many such possibilities in our considered view which are implementable under the current land reform dispensation if there is a political will and without disturbing peace and stability.
“However, such possibilities can only be identified, critically appraised and possibly agreed upon only if the question of ancestral land claim is openly and unreservedly discussed without any unwelcome efforts aimed at stifling the necessary debate,” he said.
The council also accused the Swapo-led government of manoeuvring to relegate this issue to a mere sub-topic among many less serious topics.
“We took note of these tricks and see this SPEC’s contemptuous effort as a latest instalment in this scheme of things. In our view, the SPEC has no place, no mandate, and even no expertise to seek to predetermine the outcome of the envisaged conference. In our view they are the least qualified body, technically speaking, to venture advice on this delicate and specialised subject matter,” Xoagub said.
Meanwhile, Swapo yesterday held a caucus meeting with all its representatives in parliament as well as governors ahead of the national land conference.
The meeting was called to ensure that the ruling party has a united stand on the land issue.
The party’s secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa, was unreachable for the whole of yesterday.
The Damara King’s Council has branded the Swapo Party Elders’ Council ignorant following its suggestion last week that resolutions on ancestral land claims should not implemented after the second national land conference.
SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana told journalists on Friday that delegates at the land conference should be allowed to debate the issue of ancestral land claims, but the resolutions taken should not be implemented.
In a hard-hitting statement yesterday, the secretary-general of the Damara King’s Council, Abner Xoagub, rubbished the opinion of the Swapo elders as insulting and grossly insensitive to land losses the Damara people have suffered.
The council also called for a judicial commission on restitution of land rights after the land conference has taken place next week.
“We maintain that SPEC is grossly ignorant or chooses to be ignorant of many possibilities that exist for restorative land reform measures which could be introduced for the benefit of those minority communities who lost their ancestral lands,” said Xoagub.
“There are many such possibilities in our considered view which are implementable under the current land reform dispensation if there is a political will and without disturbing peace and stability.
“However, such possibilities can only be identified, critically appraised and possibly agreed upon only if the question of ancestral land claim is openly and unreservedly discussed without any unwelcome efforts aimed at stifling the necessary debate,” he said.
The council also accused the Swapo-led government of manoeuvring to relegate this issue to a mere sub-topic among many less serious topics.
“We took note of these tricks and see this SPEC’s contemptuous effort as a latest instalment in this scheme of things. In our view, the SPEC has no place, no mandate, and even no expertise to seek to predetermine the outcome of the envisaged conference. In our view they are the least qualified body, technically speaking, to venture advice on this delicate and specialised subject matter,” Xoagub said.
Meanwhile, Swapo yesterday held a caucus meeting with all its representatives in parliament as well as governors ahead of the national land conference.
The meeting was called to ensure that the ruling party has a united stand on the land issue.
The party’s secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa, was unreachable for the whole of yesterday.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article