Whites not under threat - Geingob
The head of state says there is no expectation that whites must feel guilty for colonial and racist brutalities, but there is an expectation that they acknowledge benefiting from these policies.
While opening the door to a comprehensive of audit of all those resettled since independence, and a commission of inquiry into ancestral land claims, President Hage Geingob has also spoken directly to whites about their “duties and obligations to fellow Namibians”.
In his closing address at the country's second national land conference this past Friday, Geingob said the gathering had “heard some emotional sentiments expressed” and whites had probably “wondered whether you are safe or welcome”.
“This is your country. You are Namibians. As Namibians, we all have rights, but we must never forget our duties and obligations to fellow Namibians.
“There is no expectation that you must feel guilty for the colonial and racist brutality of the past. The expectation is that you acknowledge that those brutal policies benefited some, to the disadvantage of the majority. The fundamental issue is not race.
“It is the disproportionate wealth of the few, to the exclusion of the majority. Inequality is a global phenomenon and it just so happens that because of our past, the majority of wealth remains vested in the hands of an economic minority, many of who are white.
“It is the quintessential dilemma of a minority of haves and a majority of have-nots,” Geingob said. He said the expectation is thus that the haves, regardless of their colour, must take responsibility to ensure the inclusion of the have-nots.
“We must all take responsibility for ensuring a future where all our children have fair opportunities, respect one another's dignity and have empathy for the poor. You are not under any existential threat. The threat is the danger to peace presented by structural inequality.”
To the youth, Geingob said they had a rare opportunity to be part of a historic conference.
“I was the chairman of the first land conference (in 1991), and while the discussions were robust, this time the discussions were totally different. I was impressed by the diversity of views, the depth of knowledge of the experts, and the strong demands for the restoration of dignity and justice. As an observer of the second land conference, my observation is that the consciousness of the Namibian people has deepened.”
He said holding the successful second land conference, “we have taken the first huge step towards resolving the dilemma of land poverty”. He added: “Hard work lies ahead, but if we continue on the path of fairness, inclusivity and tolerance, we will witness the dawn of an era in which all our people will be able to enjoy the fruits of unity, liberty and justice.”
Geingob said there is a burning need for the country's resettlement programme to be infused with accountability and transparency.
“Numerous allegations have been made regarding the pre-2010 list and this troubles me deeply.
“No evidence has been provided to support the allegations of corruption and while corruption can't be ruled out, it is not inconceivable that the challenge around releasing the list has to do with poor recordkeeping.
“As the data on persons and areas of resettlement is an important management tool, a concerted effort will be made to find or use the available information to recreate a complete resettlement list, even if it means conducting an audit of all the resettlement farms,” Geingob said.
“I would like to propose again that newly resettled farmers be linked to experienced commercial farmers for training, coaching and mentoring, and provision of shared services through the establishment of cooperatives.”
Geingob said in the weeks and months following the land conference, ancestral land claims and restitution would be interrogated extensively “to ascertain what statutory and policy reforms will help buttress our efforts to redress communities that may have been subjected to untold injustices, which dispossessed them of both their ancestral land and dignity”.
“The proposal for a commission of inquiry to look at this matter featured prominently and deserves further interrogation.
“The work of such commission should be evidence-based and be enriched by international experience on this matter. We must remain mindful that the consequences of colonialism and apartheid resulted in devastating consequences for all black Namibians which persist from generation to generation. We recognise the untold suffering and our commitment is to have different solutions for the different ways in which we were all affected by our brutal past,” Geingob added. Geingob said expropriation with just compensation, will moderate land prices, and will consequentially make government's land acquisition programme more sustainable.
STAFF REPORTER
In his closing address at the country's second national land conference this past Friday, Geingob said the gathering had “heard some emotional sentiments expressed” and whites had probably “wondered whether you are safe or welcome”.
“This is your country. You are Namibians. As Namibians, we all have rights, but we must never forget our duties and obligations to fellow Namibians.
“There is no expectation that you must feel guilty for the colonial and racist brutality of the past. The expectation is that you acknowledge that those brutal policies benefited some, to the disadvantage of the majority. The fundamental issue is not race.
“It is the disproportionate wealth of the few, to the exclusion of the majority. Inequality is a global phenomenon and it just so happens that because of our past, the majority of wealth remains vested in the hands of an economic minority, many of who are white.
“It is the quintessential dilemma of a minority of haves and a majority of have-nots,” Geingob said. He said the expectation is thus that the haves, regardless of their colour, must take responsibility to ensure the inclusion of the have-nots.
“We must all take responsibility for ensuring a future where all our children have fair opportunities, respect one another's dignity and have empathy for the poor. You are not under any existential threat. The threat is the danger to peace presented by structural inequality.”
To the youth, Geingob said they had a rare opportunity to be part of a historic conference.
“I was the chairman of the first land conference (in 1991), and while the discussions were robust, this time the discussions were totally different. I was impressed by the diversity of views, the depth of knowledge of the experts, and the strong demands for the restoration of dignity and justice. As an observer of the second land conference, my observation is that the consciousness of the Namibian people has deepened.”
He said holding the successful second land conference, “we have taken the first huge step towards resolving the dilemma of land poverty”. He added: “Hard work lies ahead, but if we continue on the path of fairness, inclusivity and tolerance, we will witness the dawn of an era in which all our people will be able to enjoy the fruits of unity, liberty and justice.”
Geingob said there is a burning need for the country's resettlement programme to be infused with accountability and transparency.
“Numerous allegations have been made regarding the pre-2010 list and this troubles me deeply.
“No evidence has been provided to support the allegations of corruption and while corruption can't be ruled out, it is not inconceivable that the challenge around releasing the list has to do with poor recordkeeping.
“As the data on persons and areas of resettlement is an important management tool, a concerted effort will be made to find or use the available information to recreate a complete resettlement list, even if it means conducting an audit of all the resettlement farms,” Geingob said.
“I would like to propose again that newly resettled farmers be linked to experienced commercial farmers for training, coaching and mentoring, and provision of shared services through the establishment of cooperatives.”
Geingob said in the weeks and months following the land conference, ancestral land claims and restitution would be interrogated extensively “to ascertain what statutory and policy reforms will help buttress our efforts to redress communities that may have been subjected to untold injustices, which dispossessed them of both their ancestral land and dignity”.
“The proposal for a commission of inquiry to look at this matter featured prominently and deserves further interrogation.
“The work of such commission should be evidence-based and be enriched by international experience on this matter. We must remain mindful that the consequences of colonialism and apartheid resulted in devastating consequences for all black Namibians which persist from generation to generation. We recognise the untold suffering and our commitment is to have different solutions for the different ways in which we were all affected by our brutal past,” Geingob added. Geingob said expropriation with just compensation, will moderate land prices, and will consequentially make government's land acquisition programme more sustainable.
STAFF REPORTER
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