Veteran offers 10 000ha for mahala

Victoria Kauluma, a registered war veteran, says she wants to give away 10 000 hectares of her 20 364-hectare farm in the Hardap Region.

Kauluma, daughter of Ondonga king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, bought a portion of Farm Lahnstein No 193 on auction March this year.

She says the farm is too big for her and her two children. Her children are currently living in Canada.

“I do not want to live alone on the farm. I want to give a portion of land to the people of the Hardap Region,” Kauluma said of her unusual and generous offer.

Her intention is to give away portions of at least five hectares to those interested in small-scale farming activities by dividing up the 44 camps on the farm. That would mean at least 2 000 people would benefit.

“I do not want to sell or rent out the portions of land. I want to give it to deserving people. It was a gift to me from the Lord and I want to share that,” Kauluma said this week. Kauluma, a staunch Swapo member, says she wants to give the five-hectare portions of land to anyone interested irrespective of colour, creed or political affiliation.

“I want to give the portions of land to poor and needy people from the Hardap Region because the people there are suffering; no one is looking after them.”

It would be better if people had the opportunity to work and make their own gardens, to be able to generate their own food instead of the perpetual dependency on South Africa.

We have the power to become self-sufficient,” Kauluma said.

She added: “The [Hardap] councillors have opportunities but they are not looking after the needs of the people. Some councillors have as many as 10 or 15 plots, farms, erven, and houses. Why do they not give some of these to poor people?

“Not a single councillor is looking after the people. They are only enriching themselves. The people of the Hardap Region are unemployed, they do not get resettled. There are no SME, youth or women's empowerment projects for them. Councillors give projects to their families and friends. Why are the people of Hardap not resettled so that they can prosper? ”



She says she has been thinking about her proposition for a long time and was inspired by founding president Sam Nujoma's donation of a clinic and school on his farmland to surrounding communities.



“I have learnt from former president Nujoma who is not only for Swapo people; he fought for all people in this country,” she said, and added: “Swapo is not looking after Swapo people only. It is taking care of all people in Namibia. Swapo is your father and mother. Swapo is the key to everyone.”



She invited interested people to contact her at her place of work, at the 062 building on Bahnhof Street in Rehoboth, or to phone her on 081 467 6195 or 081 473 1569.



“Anyone can register as long as you are from the Hardap Region. Those who want to register can have some livestock but I do not want to give land just for grazing. I want people to make their own gardens to feed themselves,” she said.



She also stressed that she would not tolerate anyone intending to put up shebeens or sell from the plots.



She said she would assist the prospective beneficiaries to register the plots of land in their names with the Registrar of Deeds once she could secure a waiver from the Ministry of Land Reform.



Kauluma dared others who have so far benefitted from land acquisitions to do the same – to give small portions of land as gifts to other landless Namibians.



“Do not be selfish. Give plots of land to future generations of Namibians,” Kauluma said.

CATHERINE SASMAN