Land plan not linked to bid for presidency: Pohamba

LANDS Minister and Swapo Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba says the fast-tracking of land reform has nothing to do with his aspirations to become Namibian president.

Since Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab announced last week that Government will expropriate farm land, there has been a suspicion among some Namibians that Pohamba wanted to use the land reform programme to campaign for the Swapo presidency. “That is nonsense,” responded Pohamba yesterday.He said expropriation was first mentioned at the historic 1991 land conference at Mariental and was transformed into law in 1995.”It has been coming for years,” he said.Swapo insiders believe President Sam Nujoma favours Pohamba as the next Swapo leader and future Namibian president.He will face stiff competition from Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya and former Prime Minister Hage Geingob during the party’s upcoming extraordinary congress later this year.Pohamba also denied that Namibia was taking the Zimbabwean route with its land reform programme.”I don’t comment on what is happening in other countries.I am not a minister of the SADC but Minister of Lands in Namibia.Go to Zimbabwe or Gaborone to hear about Zimbabwe.I don’t know what is happening there,” he said dismissively.Zimbabwe has forced hundreds of white farmers off their land in land grabs that have destroyed the country’s agricultural industry.”That is nonsense,” responded Pohamba yesterday.He said expropriation was first mentioned at the historic 1991 land conference at Mariental and was transformed into law in 1995.”It has been coming for years,” he said.Swapo insiders believe President Sam Nujoma favours Pohamba as the next Swapo leader and future Namibian president.He will face stiff competition from Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya and former Prime Minister Hage Geingob during the party’s upcoming extraordinary congress later this year.Pohamba also denied that Namibia was taking the Zimbabwean route with its land reform programme.”I don’t comment on what is happening in other countries.I am not a minister of the SADC but Minister of Lands in Namibia.Go to Zimbabwe or Gaborone to hear about Zimbabwe.I don’t know what is happening there,” he said dismissively.Zimbabwe has forced hundreds of white farmers off their land in land grabs that have destroyed the country’s agricultural industry.