RP slams Gobabis farmers’ meeting as ‘unfortunate’

THE Republican Party has described Wednesday’s meeting of commercial farmers at Gobabis as “an unfortunate event”.

In a statement yesterday, its president Henk Mudge said the discussions could damage already strained relations over the land issue in Namibia. “Emotional and ill-considered actions will result in irreparable damage and should be avoided at all costs,” the party said in response to the intention expressed by some present to “fight” Government’s expropriation plans.The meeting was organised by the Namibia Farmers’ Support Initiative (NFSI), but ended in a walk-out by some farmers in the face of extreme statements by some individual farmers present.The NFSI has said that, while not opposed to expropriation, it was not in agreement with the way Government was handling the issue.But the RP has said the situation boiled down to a lack of communication between the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and the commercial farming community.”Many commercial farmers still believe that the expropriation of commercial farms is unconstitutional, which is a total misconception,” said the RP.Mudge alleged that it was untrue that more than 200 commercial farmers had been consulted on the NAU’s land reform plan, saying recent discussions on the matter had yielded little on this score.According to the RP, the majority of commercial farmers were unfamiliar with discussions at NAU’s March conference on its land reform plan.The party said that much of the “irresponsible and unfounded statements” about impending expropriation were made because of unanswered questions on the matter.The party said Government was yet to enlighten the country on the amount and type of land it had identified for expropriation and the criteria being used to identify the land required.While the Constitution provides for a landowner to appeal against expropriation before a court, the RP said it appeared that Government and the NAU viewed this measure as an obstruction.The RP said it was begging an answer on how Government intended utilising expropriated land so that the economy was not compromised.”The fact that the NAU at this late stage is seeking legal advice creates the impression that they themselves do not have clarity regarding these fundamental issues.How can they expect the commercial farmers to know what could await them in future?” the RP asked yesterday.The party said it had already drafted its proposals regarding land reform and had requested a meeting with Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba to discuss them.”Emotional and ill-considered actions will result in irreparable damage and should be avoided at all costs,” the party said in response to the intention expressed by some present to “fight” Government’s expropriation plans.The meeting was organised by the Namibia Farmers’ Support Initiative (NFSI), but ended in a walk-out by some farmers in the face of extreme statements by some individual farmers present.The NFSI has said that, while not opposed to expropriation, it was not in agreement with the way Government was handling the issue.But the RP has said the situation boiled down to a lack of communication between the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and the commercial farming community.”Many commercial farmers still believe that the expropriation of commercial farms is unconstitutional, which is a total misconception,” said the RP.Mudge alleged that it was untrue that more than 200 commercial farmers had been consulted on the NAU’s land reform plan, saying recent discussions on the matter had yielded little on this score.According to the RP, the majority of commercial farmers were unfamiliar with discussions at NAU’s March conference on its land reform plan.The party said that much of the “irresponsible and unfounded statements” about impending expropriation were made because of unanswered questions on the matter.The party said Government was yet to enlighten the country on the amount and type of land it had identified for expropriation and the criteria being used to identify the land required.While the Constitution provides for a landowner to appeal against expropriation before a court, the RP said it appeared that Government and the NAU viewed this measure as an obstruction.The RP said it was begging an answer on how Government intended utilising expropriated land so that the economy was not compromised.”The fact that the NAU at this late stage is seeking legal advice creates the impression that they themselves do not have clarity regarding these fundamental issues.How can they expect the commercial farmers to know what could await them in future?” the RP asked yesterday.The party said it had already drafted its proposals regarding land reform and had requested a meeting with Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba to discuss them.