Sankwasa warns against marriage for land

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has cautioned foreign nationals against entering into marriages of convenience with Namibians to gain access to land.

Speaking at the official opening of the Oshikuku Trade Fair on Wednesday, Sankwasa said the government will not allow the abuse of marriage as a shortcut to land ownership.

“When some foreign nationals marry Namibians and acquire land, divorce proceedings begin soon after. Let’s do away with such practices. I am not against marriages with foreign nationals, but that should not automatically make them landowners,” he said.

Sankwasa suggested that only children born of such unions should qualify to inherit or acquire land, while land rights should remain with the Namibian partner.

“The owner of that land should be the Namibian partner in that relationship, not vice versa, because land is both an economic and social asset. If we are to achieve fairness, we must go beyond political affiliation,” he said.

He said land should not be misused.

According to Sankwasa, land is being used by foreign nationals to “rent a wife or husband”.

“Some women come around, they rent men to pretend to be their husbands in order to acquire marriage certificates and then get land. Some men also come around, they rent our sisters to get certificates and then acquire land,” he said.

Ombalantu Traditional Authority spokesperson Isdor Kanelombe says it is unacceptable to marry for such reasons and he will not allow it in his jurisdiction. He says he has not observed this in his area, as individuals in such unions are typically found in urban areas or foreign countries.

Ondonga Traditional Authority secretary Frans Enkali says a marriage of convenience is problematic, as some people only come to hide in other countries and end up marrying for protection.

“We have to be careful when involved in such practices, especially when involved with people we do not know or where they are coming from,” he says.

Kae Tjiparuro, from the Ovaherero community, says such practices do not happen often and do not require any investigation.

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