PDFU hosts public discussion on inequality

The Previously Disadvantaged Farmers Union (PDFU) hosted a public gathering at the Agra Ring in Windhoek with close to 100 community members joining the informative session themed 'Addressing Inequality and Empowering the Namibian Farmer'.Keynote speaker, Zimbabwean writer and pastor Joshua Maponga, CEO of Farmers of Thought, was joined by the PDFU chairperson Jane Kuhanga and her deputy Mbakumwa Hengari.Farmers from across the country shared their concerns and feedback on the current state of affairs in the farming sector, according to a media release of PDFU.“This is what we foster – to allow such conversations to change mindsets and allow us to stand together as Namibian farmers to advocate for basic rights as farmers,” Kuhanga said."Hengari shared a background on the history of its colonial regime that has not changed after many years of independence. He encouraged farmers to understand its history and be mindful of decisions made by farmers for the sake of its future generations," the union's media release stated.Maponga addressed Namibian land ownership as well as preserving it for future generations. He focused on the politically sensitive environment, noting that “addressing political parties' resistance to land reform requires a multi-faceted approach."The challenges posed by entrenched interests, fear of losing power, and economic pressure from elite stakeholders can be daunting, but there are strategies to overcome them."Mobilise He said building public pressure is crucial for pushing land reform."This can be achieved through mass mobilisation, social media campaigns, petitions, and protests. By rallying the public and creating a sense of urgency, political parties are more likely to take notice and respond to the demands for change."According to Maponga, policy advocacy is another key strategy."Engaging with party leaders, developing alternative policy frameworks, and collaborating with progressive lawmakers can help shift the narrative and create a more conducive environment for land reform," he advised.Maponga compared Namibia to other countries as a case study. “In South Africa, for example, the historical context of land reform is deeply rooted in the country's apartheid past. The Native Land Act of 1913 and the Native Trust and Land Act of 1936 were instrumental in displacing black people from their land, leading to significant social and economic inequalities."He said to address these injustices, organisations like the African Farmers Union can lead advocacy efforts, provide technical expertise, and mobilise membership. "By working together with social justice movements, farmers' unions, and indigenous rights organisations, a stronger, more unified front can be presented.""International instruments like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants, the African Union's Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can also provide a framework for guiding land reform efforts," he noted. ControversialMaponga recently made headlines when Namibian Sun reported that he had turned down an invitation to attend Swapo's election manifesto discussion, saying the party has changed nothing since independence. “They came back, and they sat on the same chairs that the colonisers were sitting on. They became the ministers of health to manage the same health system, ministers of education to manage the same education system, and ministers of water to manage the same water policies. Even as we sit today, we still have the red line zones in Namibia. Who drew these lines? The...'boere' and Germans who said if you allow goods to come down here, then the business of the south would go down, saying, we are the monopoly holders of business in Windhoek; you cannot allow cheap goods from the north and those of the red line zones” he reportedly said.

PDFU hosts public discussion on inequality

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PDFU hosts public discussion on inequality

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