Farmers press for delay on expropriation

COMMERCIAL farmers have asked Government to postpone its plans to expropriate their farms to the end of June.

They claim the law is not being followed correctly. The President of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Jan de Wet, said on Wednesday Government had adopted punitive measures as a reason for expropriating farms and the whole process lacked transparency.The farmers met for two days this week to discuss the issue after some 15 white farmers were served with expropriation notices by Government and told they would be offered “just compensation”.De Wet said Government was not clear on the meaning of “public interest and just compensation”, nor the criteria being used to identify the farms.Further, Government was using labour disputes as a reason to expropriate farms.When he announced Government’s plans to press ahead with expropriation, Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba said they had targeted “many farms” and had given farmers two weeks to submit their asking price.De Wet said the move had not come as a surprise as farmers had expected the first moves on expropriation to be made before next weekend’s extraordinary Swapo congress that will choose a successor to President Sam Nujoma.”We have requested a postponement because of the implications such a process will have on the country at this moment.The postponement until the end of June will give us time to set up a team consisting of a legal and an agricultural expert as well as an evaluator to assist NAU members through expropriation procedures,” De Wet told The Namibian from his farm.He said a team had been set up to compile a document that NAU, the biggest association of commercial farmers, intended to forward to Government for consideration before taking further steps.De Wet said they had been approached by six members who had been served with notices, some of whom had been involved in labour disputes and the eviction of farm workers.Among the farms targeted for expropriation is a game farm owned by a Belgian national where Nujoma spent a few days hunting last year.De Wet said Government was not clear on whether only foreigners residing in Namibia were being targeted or whether those who owned land with Government permission and those with permanent residence were included.He said the NAU had thought only under-utilised, excessive and absentee foreign-owned land was to be targeted.De Wet said that to maintain peace, stability and prosperity, Government needed to be clear about its reasons.”We want consensus on the procedure so as to avoid court cases.We all know that court cases can take years and the whole process can be delayed.The NAU wants to co-operate but we need clarity from the Government,” he said.Earlier, Sigi Eimbeck of the Namibian Farmers’ Support Initiative (NFSI) described the notices as “worrying”.”We are not against expropriation, [but] expropriation as it is now is for political expediency,” said Eimbeck.”If the President calls a farmer a criminal and a few days later he is served with an expropriation notice, it is sad.I don’t know where it’s going to end,” said Eimbeck, referring to Nujoma’s outburst on May Day that Ongombo West would be taken.Pohamba has previously “dismissed” suggestions that he had started with expropriation to boost his chances of being elected as President Nujoma’s successor.Pohamba stressed that land would be taken in accordance with the law.The Namibian Constitution dictates that “just compensation” be paid for property that is expropriated.The President of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Jan de Wet, said on Wednesday Government had adopted punitive measures as a reason for expropriating farms and the whole process lacked transparency.The farmers met for two days this week to discuss the issue after some 15 white farmers were served with expropriation notices by Government and told they would be offered “just compensation”.De Wet said Government was not clear on the meaning of “public interest and just compensation”, nor the criteria being used to identify the farms.Further, Government was using labour disputes as a reason to expropriate farms.When he announced Government’s plans to press ahead with expropriation, Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba said they had targeted “many farms” and had given farmers two weeks to submit their asking price.De Wet said the move had not come as a surprise as farmers had expected the first moves on expropriation to be made before next weekend’s extraordinary Swapo congress that will choose a successor to President Sam Nujoma.”We have requested a postponement because of the implications such a process will have on the country at this moment.The postponement until the end of June will give us time to set up a team consisting of a legal and an agricultural expert as well as an evaluator to assist NAU members through expropriation procedures,” De Wet told The Namibian from his farm.He said a team had been set up to compile a document that NAU, the biggest association of commercial farmers, intended to forward to Government for consideration before taking further steps.De Wet said they had been approached by six members who had been served with notices, some of whom had been involved in labour disputes and the eviction of farm workers.Among the farms targeted for expropriation is a game farm owned by a Belgian national where Nujoma spent a few days hunting last year.De Wet said Government was not clear on whether only foreigners residing in Namibia were being targeted or whether those who owned land with Government permission and those with permanent residence were included.He said the NAU had thought only under-utilised, excessive and absentee foreign-owned land was to be targeted.De Wet said that to maintain peace, stability and prosperity, Government needed to be clear about its reasons.”We want consensus on the procedure so as to avoid court cases.We all know that court cases can take years and the whole process can be delayed.The NAU wants to co-operate but we need clarity from the Government,” he said.Earlier, Sigi Eimbeck of the Namibian Farmers’ Support Initiative (NFSI) described the notices as “worrying”.”We are not against expropriation, [but] expropriation as it is now is for political expediency,” said Eimbeck.”If the President calls a farmer a criminal and a few days later he is served with an expropriation notice, it is sad.I don’t know where it’s going to end,” said Eimbeck, referring to Nujoma’s outburst on May Day that Ongombo West would be taken.Pohamba has previously “dismissed” suggestions that he had started with expropriation to boost his chances of being elected as President Nujoma’s successor.Pohamba stressed that land would be taken in accordance with the law.The Namibian Constitution dictates that “just compensation” be paid for property that is expropriated.