Swapo to speed up land reform

THE ruling Swapo Party intends to speed up the land-reform process to improve food self-sufficiency, Party President Sam Nujoma says.

“We should continue to intensify our efforts to accelerate land reform and redistribution as well as devise programmes, including financing, training and marketing to ensure [the] productivity and self-reliance of our farmers,” Nujoma told the 83-strong Central Committee of Swapo, which held its annual metting over the weekend. “By so doing we will improve self-sufficiency in the country,” he emphasised.Skills development, education and training were another aspect that needed attention, Nujoma noted.The country’s industrialisation and economic progress could only be successful if a well-trained and educated workforce was available.”The challenge before is to review our existing policies and to make the economic sector part of the national priorities to ensure balanced allocation of financial resources required to fast-track industrialisation and job creation,” Nujoma said.He called on the Central Committee members to jointly work hard to implement the Swapo resolutions of the 2002 congress and those of its 2004 election manifesto.The next Swapo congress will be held in 2007.Political observers see it as a watershed event, as it might determine whether Nujoma remains party president or steps down after 47 years.If he does step down, the issue of who succeeds him as party leader will be decisive for Namibia’s future, since the holder of that position will become the next Head of State in 2010.”By so doing we will improve self-sufficiency in the country,” he emphasised.Skills development, education and training were another aspect that needed attention, Nujoma noted.The country’s industrialisation and economic progress could only be successful if a well-trained and educated workforce was available.”The challenge before is to review our existing policies and to make the economic sector part of the national priorities to ensure balanced allocation of financial resources required to fast-track industrialisation and job creation,” Nujoma said.He called on the Central Committee members to jointly work hard to implement the Swapo resolutions of the 2002 congress and those of its 2004 election manifesto.The next Swapo congress will be held in 2007.Political observers see it as a watershed event, as it might determine whether Nujoma remains party president or steps down after 47 years.If he does step down, the issue of who succeeds him as party leader will be decisive for Namibia’s future, since the holder of that position will become the next Head of State in 2010.