Distribute land fairly, urges CCN

THE Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) has thrown its weight behind Government plans to expropriate farms but is calling for an orderly process.

CCN General Secretary Reverend Nangula Kathindi said the CCN was unhappy with the slow progress on land reform while the recent evictions of farmworkers “has been very disturbing”. She appealed to farmers not to delay the process and to claim fair prices when approached by Government.”Despite the slow redressing of past injustices relating to land reform, the Namibian nation has managed to maintain peace and stability.The CCN is also aware of numerous complaints that the principle of willing-seller, willing-buyer has not been effective,” said Kathindi.She commended Government for its willingness to offer fair compensation to land owners but also urged the State to distribute such land fairly, to train the resettled and to use it productively.Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba said on Wednesday that all landholders, regardless of skin colour, were at risk of expropriation.”We go for absentee landlords but that does not prevent us from taking land from others.We are not going to be confined to absentee landlords.It can be from Namibians, whether they are black or white, whether farms are productive or not,” Pohamba said shedding more light on the policy.Kathindi reminded Pohamba to follow the recommendations of the Land Conference of 1991 and the guidelines provided in the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act.The Act states that Government can expropriate land owned by foreigners and local farmers who own more than one farm.It also calls for expropriation in cases where commercial farmers own large tracts of land.Kathindi said expropriated land had to be given to the landless and farmworkers and not those who had the means to acquire land – whether black or white.On Wednesday Pohamba told the media that any black Namibian, whether a farmworker or Governor, qualified for resettlement.Kathindi said the accelerated land reform process should be guided by the spirit of social justice, peace and the fear of God, who is the sole owner of the land.”For us, the most important thing is to resolve the issue amicably.We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation like that of neighbouring Zimbabwe,” Kathindi said.Government said they needed about nine million hectares and over N$1 billion to buy it.She appealed to farmers not to delay the process and to claim fair prices when approached by Government.”Despite the slow redressing of past injustices relating to land reform, the Namibian nation has managed to maintain peace and stability.The CCN is also aware of numerous complaints that the principle of willing-seller, willing-buyer has not been effective,” said Kathindi.She commended Government for its willingness to offer fair compensation to land owners but also urged the State to distribute such land fairly, to train the resettled and to use it productively.Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba said on Wednesday that all landholders, regardless of skin colour, were at risk of expropriation.”We go for absentee landlords but that does not prevent us from taking land from others.We are not going to be confined to absentee landlords.It can be from Namibians, whether they are black or white, whether farms are productive or not,” Pohamba said shedding more light on the policy.Kathindi reminded Pohamba to follow the recommendations of the Land Conference of 1991 and the guidelines provided in the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act.The Act states that Government can expropriate land owned by foreigners and local farmers who own more than one farm.It also calls for expropriation in cases where commercial farmers own large tracts of land.Kathindi said expropriated land had to be given to the landless and farmworkers and not those who had the means to acquire land – whether black or white.On Wednesday Pohamba told the media that any black Namibian, whether a farmworker or Governor, qualified for resettlement.Kathindi said the accelerated land reform process should be guided by the spirit of social justice, peace and the fear of God, who is the sole owner of the land.”For us, the most important thing is to resolve the issue amicably.We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation like that of neighbouring Zimbabwe,” Kathindi said.Government said they needed about nine million hectares and over N$1 billion to buy it.