Deputy Minister wants to change Constitution

DEPUTY Minister of Environment and Tourism Petrus Iilonga last week tried to whip up support in the National Assembly for amending that section of the Constitution which deals with the ownership of natural resources.

He argued that this would speed up land reform. Speaking during debate on the national Budget, Iilonga said it was unacceptable that Government was expected to pay for land earmarked for expropriation.”When we take out those seven words, then we allow the Ministry [of Lands] no longer to concentrate on hectares but only concentrate on infrastructure,” he said.Iilonga was referring to Article 100, which states that all land, water and natural resources which is not lawfully owned by individuals, belongs to the State.He cited examples of the land situation in Mozambique, Zambia and Nigeria, where he claimed no land belonged to individuals.”Namibia can do the same.For those who bought they will not lose anything because they will remain on that land for 99 years and their family will continue to use it,” said Iilonga.Iilonga said those who wanted to “sell” the land on which they lived should only be compensated for the development, but not for the land.”Therefore we really need to tighten our belt and delete those seven words so that we can really go for land reform,” he added.Speaking during debate on the national Budget, Iilonga said it was unacceptable that Government was expected to pay for land earmarked for expropriation.”When we take out those seven words, then we allow the Ministry [of Lands] no longer to concentrate on hectares but only concentrate on infrastructure,” he said.Iilonga was referring to Article 100, which states that all land, water and natural resources which is not lawfully owned by individuals, belongs to the State.He cited examples of the land situation in Mozambique, Zambia and Nigeria, where he claimed no land belonged to individuals.”Namibia can do the same.For those who bought they will not lose anything because they will remain on that land for 99 years and their family will continue to use it,” said Iilonga.Iilonga said those who wanted to “sell” the land on which they lived should only be compensated for the development, but not for the land.”Therefore we really need to tighten our belt and delete those seven words so that we can really go for land reform,” he added.