‘Landless Namibians’ demand to see Nujoma

RUTH KAMWIABOUT 40 //Naosan/Aes members calling themselves the ‘Movement of Landless Namibians’ yesterday handed over a petition to the land reform ministry in Windhoek.

The group, led by their chairperson Brigithe //Oases, said they are disappointed that land refomr minsiter Utoni Nujoma had ignored their attempts to communicate with him between 2015 and 2019.

The petition read at the ministry’s offices yesterday, //Oases said the minister had not acknowledged any of the letters since taking office.

She made particular reference to a letter written to Nujoma on 7 June 2017, asking for a meeting to discuss various issue, including the second national land conference.

//Oases added that numerous phone calls to the ministry went unanswered.

They said Nujoma’s “anti-poor” remarks made last year during an interview with a South African broadcaster was “an embarrassing slip of the tongue”.

All along, //Oases said, the minister had no intention of engaging the poor, and that the truth was finally revealed during the interview.

“Is it a sin to meet with us? Is it so costly to make a telephone call or send an email to those who have secured your seat in one of the vital ministries of our government?” //Oases asked.

A participant in the crowd, who declined to be named, asked whether the ministry’s actions were in line with president Hage Geingob’s call for accountability.

The group said they expect a response to the petition, which was received by Dana Beukes, the ministry’s registrar in the deeds office, by 20 April 2019.

Beukes promised that a response from the ministry would be issued within 20 days.

“We will seek alternative routes to be listened to and heard if our letter is not responded to within 20 days,” the petition ended.

The group – whose membership has grown to 1 000 – came into existence in 2009.

Following numerous meetings with former land reform minister Alfeus !Naruseb, farm Versailles in the Rehoboth area was purchased for them.

However, only 46 households could be settled on the farm, which they had to share with the communities of Stinkwater and Audabib. According to //Oases, a large group of //Naosan/Aes members has since remained unresettled.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.