Vehicles donated for communal land development
N$6.5m for 10 vehicles
The vehicles will be used in key activities during the implementation of the communal land development programme.
Ten vehicles – valued at N$6.5 million - were donated to the agriculture ministry for its communal land development programme.
The donation by the European Union and Germany - through development bank KfW - will be used in key activities during the implementation of the programme, minister Calle Schlettwein said.
This includes verifying and mapping existing customary land rights and leaseholds in communal areas, securing an administration system for communal land and developing participatory integrated regional land-use plans and local level participatory plans.
It also focuses on the fact that core infrastructure investments - identified through the participatory planning processes - are implemented and improve the conditions for commercial land-based development in designated areas.
Other key activities are that programme beneficiaries receive advisory services to tap into the improved physical environment and successfully pursue more commercially-driven modes of production and that farm productivity increases.
Ensuring that beneficiaries have increased capacity to assume their mandate for the management and development of communal lands is yet another.
“There is no doubt that unwavering support will go a long way in supporting the more than 70% of our population that mainly live on agriculture,” Schlettwein said.
Communal land boards
He added that to administer the land in communal areas, the ministry has established communal land boards in all regions except Khomas, where there is no communal land.
“The communal land boards are working hand-in-hand with the respective traditional authorities who are responsible for customary land allocations and cancellations as per the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act, which was enacted by parliament in March 2003.”
According to him, for the ministry to administer and manage land effectively and reach out to people living in the different parts of the country, they need to be mobile and the donated vehicles will enable them to visit all the priority areas as they endeavour to serve the people of Namibia.
The vehicles donated include nine Toyota Hilux (4x4 double cabs) which will be used in the various regions for the purposes of improving the livelihoods of the people, and one Toyota Rav4 which will be used for administration activities.
“It is pleasing to note that more tangible results are being realised through participatory planning, hard work and commitment in line with the national development goals.”
The donation by the European Union and Germany - through development bank KfW - will be used in key activities during the implementation of the programme, minister Calle Schlettwein said.
This includes verifying and mapping existing customary land rights and leaseholds in communal areas, securing an administration system for communal land and developing participatory integrated regional land-use plans and local level participatory plans.
It also focuses on the fact that core infrastructure investments - identified through the participatory planning processes - are implemented and improve the conditions for commercial land-based development in designated areas.
Other key activities are that programme beneficiaries receive advisory services to tap into the improved physical environment and successfully pursue more commercially-driven modes of production and that farm productivity increases.
Ensuring that beneficiaries have increased capacity to assume their mandate for the management and development of communal lands is yet another.
“There is no doubt that unwavering support will go a long way in supporting the more than 70% of our population that mainly live on agriculture,” Schlettwein said.
Communal land boards
He added that to administer the land in communal areas, the ministry has established communal land boards in all regions except Khomas, where there is no communal land.
“The communal land boards are working hand-in-hand with the respective traditional authorities who are responsible for customary land allocations and cancellations as per the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act, which was enacted by parliament in March 2003.”
According to him, for the ministry to administer and manage land effectively and reach out to people living in the different parts of the country, they need to be mobile and the donated vehicles will enable them to visit all the priority areas as they endeavour to serve the people of Namibia.
The vehicles donated include nine Toyota Hilux (4x4 double cabs) which will be used in the various regions for the purposes of improving the livelihoods of the people, and one Toyota Rav4 which will be used for administration activities.
“It is pleasing to note that more tangible results are being realised through participatory planning, hard work and commitment in line with the national development goals.”
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