Don’t spoil a good thing with corruption, favouritism, nepotism or tribalism

The government’s land reform programme must remain focused on restoring justice, dignity, and livelihoods to landless Namibians. Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani has warned that this effort risks being undermined unless all stakeholders act with fairness, urgency, and compassion.She was speaking at the handover of resettlement allotment letters to nine beneficiaries in Windhoek. The event followed the acquisition of two farms in the Omaheke Region, part of a broader effort to address landlessness and overcrowding.“Land is crucial to us as human beings. It is not merely a piece of land where we live. It forms the very substance of our dignity, our livelihoods, and our future,” Zaamwani said.Troubling trendDespite decades of redistributive efforts, Zaamwani said the government is “deeply concerned” about the rise in displaced communities. “A significant number of people are forced to graze their livestock and reside in corridors all over the country.”This trend is especially severe in the Erongo, Hardap, Kunene, //Kharas, Omaheke, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa regions. “These trends mostly affect generational farmworkers, many of whom were born and raised on commercial land.”She said resolutions passed at the 2018 Second National Land Conference recognised this crisis and called for urgent action. The ministry has since intensified its land acquisition efforts, within the constraints of its financial resources, to respond to these growing needs.Six units, nine beneficiariesZaamwani announced that the government had purchased Farm Wiums Rus and Farm Fiesta for a combined cost of N$28 million. The two farms, covering more than 11,000 hectares, were subdivided into eight farming units.“Today, six of these units will be handed over to nine beneficiaries,” she said. “The remaining two units will be allocated in due course to specific groups currently residing in corridors.”She emphasised that while this handover is a milestone, it does not address the full scale of demand. “With today’s allocation, unfortunately, we are not able to cater for all the needs of Namibians who are farming in corridors.”Stop evictionsThe minister called on commercial landowners to halt the practice of removing long-term residents from farms. “The practice of forcefully evicting long-serving generational farmworkers and abandoning them in corridors is not only inhumane but unacceptable.”She urged landowners to pursue fair and peaceful resolutions. “We therefore appeal to all farmworkers, employers, and landowners to work together in finding amicable solutions to the challenges that lead to disruptive evictions from commercial lands.”“Opt for dialogue to seek sustainable solutions which uphold the dignity of the affected workers while also respecting the rights of farm owners,” she said.Protect the processZaamwani warned that corruption and favouritism must not pose a threat to the land reform programme. “This noble initiative must remain free from corruption, favouritism, nepotism, and tribalism.”Furthermore, she said the government would not tolerate false claims. “Any individual claiming to be a generational farmworker or alleging eviction in order to unlawfully occupy corridors or benefit from land allocation under false pretences will not be entertained.”She urged traditional leaders and regional authorities to ensure the integrity of beneficiary lists. “Any act of dishonesty will not only undermine the immense progress we seek to make but may also tarnish the programme intended to restore the dignity of our fellow citizens.”

Don’t spoil a good thing with corruption, favouritism, nepotism or tribalism

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Republikein 2025-08-01

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