Political Perspective: Land Not An Easy Cure-all
By: GWEN LISTERWHAT really bothers me about the thorny subject of redistribution is the predominant view among so many Namibians that access to land is a get-rich-quick solution which will solve the problems of the poor. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially if you start out with scant knowledge about farming in the first place. And I really think that Government needs to educate people about the pitfalls involved so as not to create false expectations that access to land is the magic solution.
I HAVE to reiterate, as I've done on every occasion I've written
about it, that no one can deny that ownership of commercial
farmland in Namibia is skewed in favour of whites, and that the
balance has to be redressed.
Quite how and to whom and to what extent it should be
redistributed is the more legitimate question.
I also have to disagree with those who say that the struggle was
primarily about land.
It was not, in my view.
The struggle was against colonialism and apartheid domination,
and not against white Namibians, farmers or otherwise.
In fact, during the struggle years quite a number of 'white'
delegations travelled to meet with the Swapo leadership, at the
latter's request, so that they could set their minds at rest about
the intentions of a future Swapo Government.
It is with this spirit in mind, that I feel strongly the
question of expropriation should apply to foreign and/or
'chequebook' farmers as they are also known.
Once the farms are in possession of Government, proper planning
needs to take place if we are to ensure that the whole exercise
doesn't backfire on us all.
I've asked a number of questions before, such as who's on the
list and how the order of priority is determined for
resettlement.
I repeat that question.
And if those who were primarily robbed of land are the Herero
and the Nama, how does this fact figure when people are resettled?
It may not sound important, but it is.
If we're talking in general terms about affirmative action in
farming, then I guess it would not matter which Namibians got what
land.
But we are not.
We are talking of those who were dispossessed in the past.
And as a matter of curiosity while on this subject: can a
non-Baster buy land in Rehoboth; and are any non-Ovambos in
possession of communal land in the north? I would guess the answer
to these questions is 'no' to both; and if so, why not? And if
certain areas of the country are set aside, as per the apartheid
Odendaal Plan, for certain groups, and are not opened to access by
ALL Namibians, then aren't some double standards at work here?
Anyhow, my point was really that we cannot expect access to land to
solve all our problems as many seem to believe.
Arguably, an unemployed person with a bit of land is better off
than someone with none, but this again brings to the fore what the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya, warned about in the
north recently, namely, that people should not develop a dependency
on handouts.
Unfortunately, this has already happened.
So land or no land, if things don't work out for people, they
look to Government to assist.
Many do believe that land reform will alleviate poverty.
I'm not certain this is so.
There's also a perception that all farmers are rich - and while
some are undoubtedly among our more affluent members of society -
there are others who battle along just as most ordinary mortals
do.
There are good times and bad times, not least of all caused by
the vicissitudes of our climate.
While I'm all in favour of people getting access to land, I also
believe it is essential they are assisted in the process which
needs to be undertaken in a transparent manner, and all options
must be looked at in an attempt to make these sustainable
co-operatives.
In the case of chequebook farmers (and they are not only whites)
the land is often not being fully utilised to the benefit of our
economy.
What is the difference after all, between the Austrian who keeps
land here to hunt once or twice a year; and the Government Minister
who visits his farm over weekends? In both cases, neither is making
a living from the land, as they have other means of income; and
neither are utilising the land to the benefit of our economy.
Farms in this instance are simply a rich man's toy.
I would therefore argue in favour of change accompanied by good
sense, fairness and transparency so that it can work to the benefit
of the country as a whole.
Quite how and to whom and to what extent it should be redistributed
is the more legitimate question.I also have to disagree with those
who say that the struggle was primarily about land.It was not, in
my view.The struggle was against colonialism and apartheid
domination, and not against white Namibians, farmers or
otherwise.In fact, during the struggle years quite a number of
'white' delegations travelled to meet with the Swapo leadership, at
the latter's request, so that they could set their minds at rest
about the intentions of a future Swapo Government.It is with this
spirit in mind, that I feel strongly the question of expropriation
should apply to foreign and/or 'chequebook' farmers as they are
also known.Once the farms are in possession of Government, proper
planning needs to take place if we are to ensure that the whole
exercise doesn't backfire on us all.I've asked a number of
questions before, such as who's on the list and how the order of
priority is determined for resettlement.I repeat that question.And
if those who were primarily robbed of land are the Herero and the
Nama, how does this fact figure when people are resettled? It may
not sound important, but it is.If we're talking in general terms
about affirmative action in farming, then I guess it would not
matter which Namibians got what land.But we are not.We are talking
of those who were dispossessed in the past.And as a matter of
curiosity while on this subject: can a non-Baster buy land in
Rehoboth; and are any non-Ovambos in possession of communal land in
the north? I would guess the answer to these questions is 'no' to
both; and if so, why not? And if certain areas of the country are
set aside, as per the apartheid Odendaal Plan, for certain groups,
and are not opened to access by ALL Namibians, then aren't some
double standards at work here? Anyhow, my point was really that we
cannot expect access to land to solve all our problems as many seem
to believe.Arguably, an unemployed person with a bit of land is
better off than someone with none, but this again brings to the
fore what the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya, warned
about in the north recently, namely, that people should not develop
a dependency on handouts.Unfortunately, this has already
happened.So land or no land, if things don't work out for people,
they look to Government to assist.Many do believe that land reform
will alleviate poverty.I'm not certain this is so.There's also a
perception that all farmers are rich - and while some are
undoubtedly among our more affluent members of society - there are
others who battle along just as most ordinary mortals do.There are
good times and bad times, not least of all caused by the
vicissitudes of our climate.While I'm all in favour of people
getting access to land, I also believe it is essential they are
assisted in the process which needs to be undertaken in a
transparent manner, and all options must be looked at in an attempt
to make these sustainable co-operatives.In the case of chequebook
farmers (and they are not only whites) the land is often not being
fully utilised to the benefit of our economy.What is the difference
after all, between the Austrian who keeps land here to hunt once or
twice a year; and the Government Minister who visits his farm over
weekends? In both cases, neither is making a living from the land,
as they have other means of income; and neither are utilising the
land to the benefit of our economy.Farms in this instance are
simply a rich man's toy.I would therefore argue in favour of change
accompanied by good sense, fairness and transparency so that it can
work to the benefit of the country as a whole.