Nudo warns over farm unrest

THE National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has criticised Government for its “silence” over labour unrest on commercial farms, which it said was “dangerous” for land reform in Namibia.

Over the past four months the Namibian Farmworkers’ Union (Nafwu) has been threatening to resettle, by force, its members on the farms from which they had been dismissed and evicted. Last weekend union officials, accompanied by about 500 supporters, were stopped by Police from entering Farm Ongombo West where six labourers were fired recently.Nafwu leaders are now planning to “peacefully” evict the owner of the farm from the property after he failed to reinstate dismissed workers by the Wednesday deadline.Addressing a media conference in Windhoek yesterday, Nudo Secretary General Joseph Kauandenge, warned that Government’s continued “silence over these issues” could lead the country into farm invasions similar to the ones seen in Zimbabwe.”It is disappointing to note that every time there is a confrontation between farm-owners and their workers, Government turns a blind eye … they (Government leaders) hide behind unions, this is anarchy in its highest order,” charged Kauandenge.”The land issue cannot only be left to the unions and commercial farmers, Government should intervene.What are the line ministries dealing with land issues saying about the events at Ongombo West?” he asked.The Nudo official further deplored some white commercial farmers whose actions, he said, contributed to the unrest in the sector.”Like their counterparts in Zimbabwe did, some of these white farmers’ actions also contribute to the fiasco because they think the law will always be on their side,” Kauandenge said.He said the principle of willing-buyer, willing-seller, could still work if all stakeholders were committed to it.Kauandenge dismissed as “uncalled for” comments recently attributed to a senior Nudo official, Mburumba Kerina, in the German media, that ethnic German whites in Namibia could be targets of a Zimbabwe- style backlash if Berlin refused to pay reparations to the Hereros.”Kerina was one of the signatories to the Constitution of this country which protects the rights of every citizen.I think his comments have been taken out of proportion by the international media,” Kauandenge said.Last weekend union officials, accompanied by about 500 supporters, were stopped by Police from entering Farm Ongombo West where six labourers were fired recently. Nafwu leaders are now planning to “peacefully” evict the owner of the farm from the property after he failed to reinstate dismissed workers by the Wednesday deadline. Addressing a media conference in Windhoek yesterday, Nudo Secretary General Joseph Kauandenge, warned that Government’s continued “silence over these issues” could lead the country into farm invasions similar to the ones seen in Zimbabwe. “It is disappointing to note that every time there is a confrontation between farm-owners and their workers, Government turns a blind eye … they (Government leaders) hide behind unions, this is anarchy in its highest order,” charged Kauandenge. “The land issue cannot only be left to the unions and commercial farmers, Government should intervene. What are the line ministries dealing with land issues saying about the events at Ongombo West?” he asked. The Nudo official further deplored some white commercial farmers whose actions, he said, contributed to the unrest in the sector. “Like their counterparts in Zimbabwe did, some of these white farmers’ actions also contribute to the fiasco because they think the law will always be on their side,” Kauandenge said. He said the principle of willing-buyer, willing-seller, could still work if all stakeholders were committed to it. Kauandenge dismissed as “uncalled for” comments recently attributed to a senior Nudo official, Mburumba Kerina, in the German media, that ethnic German whites in Namibia could be targets of a Zimbabwe- style backlash if Berlin refused to pay reparations to the Hereros. “Kerina was one of the signatories to the Constitution of this country which protects the rights of every citizen. I think his comments have been taken out of proportion by the international media,” Kauandenge said.