'We will expropriate Erindi'

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) says it will expropriate the 71 000-hectare Erindi Private Game Reserve and “all such other farms which may have been acquired illegally” or “in exchange for bribes”.

The party says further in its manifesto, which was launched at the weekend in Khorixas, this will happen within the first 30 days of it coming to power.

Expropriation would happen with just compensation and absentee landlords would also be issued with notices within the first 30 days.

The LPM also promises to uphold the rights of farmworkers and farm-dwellers, labour tenants and those living in rural areas in the former Odendaal Commission reserves.

“An LPM-led government will implement a 'one farmer, one farm policy', which may be subject to change on an individual case-by-case basis for the big agri-food industry,” the manifesto says.

It also promises tax incentives for SMEs, improved fiscal policies, employment growth and a restructured black economic empowerment (BEE) policy, amongst others, to resuscitate Namibia's ailing economy. Other reforms include the downsizing of cabinet to 12 ministers, abolishing the vice-president position and implementing a land reform programme aimed at redressing past racial imbalances in ownership patterns.

This programme will also correct government's unfair land allocations and the corruption in acquisition and resettlement.

The LPM manifesto was launched by its leader Bernadus Swartbooi.

The party's main target is to reduce the country's debt-to-GDP to below 30% and introduce investor-friendly policies with local ownership.

“The infant industry protection (IIP) policy status will be revisited and certain determinations made. An LPM-led government will apply urgency on addressing rural poverty, rural economic development and stopping the institutional rot that has infected the public sector and public enterprises.

“Quality education should be intensified to address skills shortages, but above all to harness the potentialities in youth social entrepreneurship,” the manifesto says.

The party is further committed to separate the executive and legislative arms of the government, by removing the executive from parliament, in its quest to ensure accountability.

The LPM manifesto also advocates for six provinces instead of 14 regions. The party said it will amend the relevant laws to effect meaningful decentralisation, by allowing provinces to elect their own provincial ministers.



Cash cows

The LPM manifesto highlights that state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which in their view can be seen as cash cows and an arena of political patronage and wanton looting, will be rebalanced.

“The LPM will shed assets that do not generate revenue and reduce wasteful expenditure. An LPM-led government will alienate unproductive and unprofitable assets to the private sector for optimisation… SOEs must pursue creditworthiness to attract investment for growth.”



Aussenkehr

The LPM also promises to invest N$200 million in Aussenkehr, fast-track and build a new township and realise a win-win partnership in public-private sector housing development.

It also promises to acquire land so that government will not continue to improve private land.

“An LPM government will, through progressive policies, enhance maximum productivity by offering agricultural entrepreneurial support to smallholder farmers, in terms of improved seeds, fertilisers, logistics, roads, water availability, training and appropriate implements.”

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JEMIMA BEUKES