KEETMANSHOOP – Citizens in the //Kharas region fear stringent qualifying requirements attached to the resettlement policy might make them lose out on resettlement.
During a ministry of agriculture and land reform’s regional consultative meeting in Keetmanshoop last week, on the review of the resettlement criteria under the revised National Resettlement Policy of 2023, it was highlighted that land will be allocated on the basis of a 70/30 ratio.
In terms of this, 70% of the land will in the end be allocated to dispossessed Namibians and war veterans whilst the remaining national pool of landless citizens will be resettled on the other percent of available land.
Interviewed by New Era, community leader and land activist, Benedictus Basson felt these criteria would directly disqualify communal farmers from being allocated land.
“The various models identified, namely high, moderate and low economic values come with too high requirement criteria and the fear is that it will automatically disqualify our communal farmers, in the process for them losing the purpose of the national resettlement programme, “ he emphasised.
Bethanie village councillor, Diedrick Frederick in his contribution regarded these criteria as discriminatory. “In terms of the allocation of points to qualify, it is disadvantaging the elder generation as the youth are been given priority whilst men are also disadvantaged as women are awarded more points on the qualifying system,” he raised the concern.
“Local and traditional authorities were in addition never recognised during the drafting of this policy, but they are the bodies who can identify beneficiaries in their areas,” he added.
Frederick continued that they are at times also not sitting in as members of resettlement committees and if land is allocated in their areas, normally only one or two residents living, there will be resettled.
Meanwhile, !Nami#Nus constituency councillor, Susan Ndjaleka said none of the seven constituency councillors in the region forms part of the regional resettlement committee, apart from the governor.
“It is rather important that we should be included as we know the needs of our people on the grassroots level, “ she added.
The politician continued that they, as the political power in constituencies are the ones able to verify the eligibility of beneficiaries to be allocated land which can then be channelled through to the regional level to ease and expedite the process.
//Kharas governor, Aletha Frederick explained one of the resolutions taken during the Second National Land Conference as that of directing that the resettlement policy be reviewed to respond to the contemporary land needs and demands.
“To put it into perspective, the notion of resettlement is the voluntary movement of an individual or group of people from an area with marginal agricultural conditions and poor social infrastructure to a place or area designated by the government, where better land and social amenities can be provided.
“In addition, our dispossessed community is calling for accelerated land delivery; our youth are also calling to be allocated land to drive our economic development,” she said.
Frederick also urged participants to ensure that, by the end of this second consultative workshop, the region would have aligned its criteria to cater for dispossessed communities, youth, women, marginalised groups, generational farm workers and productive communal farmers.
“Therefore, I request you all to pay undivided attention to the presentations, providing your well-informed and valuable inputs, and comments and ask questions wherever possible for clarity, “ she concluded.