Much expected from new land commission

24 April 2010, New Era
URL: http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=10587

Windhoek:  Twenty years after independence, the government has only been able to acquire just over 1 million hectares of land through its land reform process. Government wants at least 15 million hectares to have changed from white ownership into the hands of previously disadvantaged Namibians by 2020.

“Is the resettlement model currently in use, still relevant to the country’s needs, or do we need to rethink the way we resettle people, 20 years after independence?”

These are just some of the questions that the newly-appointed Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement, Stefanus Mogotsi, said the new Land Reform Advisory Commission (LRAC) should ask itself. Mogotsi, who opened an induction workshop for the new 2010-2013 LRAC members yesterday, posed further questions such as whether or not Namibia is on track to reach its target, whether the law enables it to reach its target, or whether there is something wrong in the manner in which the law is being implemented.

He urged the new commission to occupy itself with specific tasks that are required of them, in order not to lose sight of the bigger picture as exemplified by the questions he posed. “In addition, we should remain mindful of the fact that land reform is a temporary programme designed to address past imbalances.

“Therefore, we should speed up this programme and plan to conclude it,” Mogotsi told the commission.

The new 16-member LRAC is drawn from government, agricultural organisations, the Agricultural Bank, the justice ministry. The line minister directly selected some of the members of the commission.

Mogotsi reminded the members about sections 10 and 11 of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act, which requires that they observe the highest ethical standards in the execution of their work.  “I have no doubt that you will live up to those standards,” he added.

Land is one of the crucial issues that occupy the attention of many in Namibia, be it a farmer or any ordinary person.

The commission has been selected to advise the Minister of Lands and Resettlement in relation to any power conferred upon the minister by the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act (Act 6 of 1995).

Mogotsi said the high number of revisions to the Act point to the complexity of land reform and the need to constantly sharpen the legislative environment in order to deliver land to previously disadvantaged Namibians.

“You should not lose sight of this overarching task, investigation and consideration, either of your own accord or upon a request by the minister of any other matter relating to the exercise of the powers of the minister and to make recommendations to the minister in connection with any other such matter,” he advised.

The new commission will be briefed on the purchase of land, resettlement, valuation, a lands tribunal and land tax, amongst others.