WINDHOEK- The new Minister of Land Reform Utoni Nujoma has vowed to solve the issue of land, which is causing tension across the country.
He said however that the land problem is a complex matter, which would not be easy to resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. He added that no country in the world has permanently managed to do that.
“We will work towards solving the land issue but we cannot say it will be eradicated as that has never happened in any part of the world. Even poverty cannot be eradicated but can be minimised. Go to any country, even wealthy ones, and you will still find people who are poor and sleeping under bridges. Those countries are wealthy and have been working on such issues but it never comes to an end,” said the minister of land reform, which was previously lands and resettlement.
Nujoma made the remarks yesterday when he and his deputy Bernadus Swartbooi were welcomed by the staff of the ministry. The event also saw ministerial staff bidding farewell to the previous minister Alpheus !Naruseb and his deputy Theo Diergaardt
Namibia, according to Nujoma, has enjoyed democracy through the rule of law with economic and social rights in place. The economic right, he said, is however currently the number one challenge, which should be worked on in order to facilitate the deliverance of land.
He said it is everyone’s responsibility to take on the unresolved land issue so that it is resolved successfully.
Outgoing minister !Naruseb, who is now the new Minister of Works and Transport, said staff members’ duties should be that of delivering good service to the people as they have successfully done during his tenure, adding that hard work should be every staff member’s guide.
“I come from a background of hard work, it was for that I was able to earn a life, therefore you should love your work as much as you can and it will help you to serve people out there – with humbleness. In 2008 when I started the backlog of work found here tabled by my predecessor was a lot, but it was because of your hard work we succeeded and achieved our goals,” reminisced !Naruseb who appeared emotional in bidding farewell to his staff.
The former permanent secretary in the lands ministry Lidwina Shapa who is now the Deputy Minister of Justice said her departure does not mean staff will not work together anymore.
She said they will still work together as the Ministry of Justice is always involved in dealing with land issues, and mentioned as an example the land bill, which will soon be tabled in parliament, according to her.