Let’s hoe a steady path on land reform: CoD

GOVERNMENT has been urged to “ensure that should any [land] expropriation take place, it [should] be done in a clearly demonstrable case of public, and not political, interest”.

In a statement, the Congress of Democrats (CoD) said Government should tread with the utmost care. Any expropriation needed to be done “in a clearly demonstrably, case of public and not political interest”, it said.The opposition party said it was on record as being in favour of “an orderly, just and justifiable process of land reform”.”However, we have noted how the process of land acquisition has been used to enrich a politically connected small elite, and this at the expense of those Namibians who dearly need access to land for their very survival.”The party said there was “no reason to ape the disastrous example of Zimbabwe by creating uncertainty in the economy”.It said further that any attempt to expropriate land “privately” would be in no one’s interest.The CoD said while it had been painstakingly slow, it believed Government’s willing-seller, willing-buyer policy had served the country well.”It will be regrettable should this process be sacrificed on the altar of political grandstanding and electioneering.”It said that labour disputes and general economic problems facing Namibia could not be used as a scapegoat “to rob Peter in order to pay Paul”.Any expropriation needed to be done “in a clearly demonstrably, case of public and not political interest”, it said.The opposition party said it was on record as being in favour of “an orderly, just and justifiable process of land reform”.”However, we have noted how the process of land acquisition has been used to enrich a politically connected small elite, and this at the expense of those Namibians who dearly need access to land for their very survival.”The party said there was “no reason to ape the disastrous example of Zimbabwe by creating uncertainty in the economy”.It said further that any attempt to expropriate land “privately” would be in no one’s interest.The CoD said while it had been painstakingly slow, it believed Government’s willing-seller, willing-buyer policy had served the country well.”It will be regrettable should this process be sacrificed on the altar of political grandstanding and electioneering.”It said that labour disputes and general economic problems facing Namibia could not be used as a scapegoat “to rob Peter in order to pay Paul”.