Germany helps Nam tackle land reform

GERMANY has announced that it will grant Namibia a staggering N$480 million to tackle land reform, improvement of transport infrastructure and the promotion of the economy.

The two countries had their annual bilateral discussions in Windhoek last week. In December, Germany committed approximately N$108 million towards Namibia when President Hifikepunye Pohamba visited that country.It was followed up with a further N$370 million last week.Of the above amount, N$270 million came in the form of a loan for the expansion of the Walvis Bay port.The two governments also signed an agreement under which Germany pledged to assist Namibia with land reform.The money will mostly go towards the development of infrastructure and the first amount of N$41 million will be released “in the near future”.In a joint statement, the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Helmut Angula, and the head of the German delegation, Ralf Schroeder, said both countries were prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding on an additional “special initiative” – a 20 million euro proposal to effectively pave the way for reparations to the Herero, Nama, Damara and San communities massacred during the colonial era, which lasted from 1884 to 1915.Namibia had proposed that an independent group be appointed to conduct a needs-assessment study in consultation with traditional leaders of the Hereros, Damaras, Namas and San.In December, Germany committed approximately N$108 million towards Namibia when President Hifikepunye Pohamba visited that country.It was followed up with a further N$370 million last week.Of the above amount, N$270 million came in the form of a loan for the expansion of the Walvis Bay port.The two governments also signed an agreement under which Germany pledged to assist Namibia with land reform.The money will mostly go towards the development of infrastructure and the first amount of N$41 million will be released “in the near future”.In a joint statement, the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Helmut Angula, and the head of the German delegation, Ralf Schroeder, said both countries were prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding on an additional “special initiative” – a 20 million euro proposal to effectively pave the way for reparations to the Herero, Nama, Damara and San communities massacred during the colonial era, which lasted from 1884 to 1915.Namibia had proposed that an independent group be appointed to conduct a needs-assessment study in consultation with traditional leaders of the Hereros, Damaras, Namas and San.