Otniel Hembapu
Zebaldt Ngaruka
Government continues to move in leaps and bounds in its efforts to ensure that previously disadvantaged Namibians are resettled and given an opportunity to join the country’s mainstream economic and agricultural activities.
Under Namibia’s much touted land reform programme, government has to date resettled over 5 518 previously disadvantaged Namibians on various farms in commercial farming areas, with the latest batch being farmers who were resettled across 13 farms that were divided into 22 farming units in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions.
In Namibia, land reform is an important political and economic topic which consists of two different strategies; resettlement and transfer of commercially viable agricultural land to those previously- disadvantaged through the assistance of government.
The resettlement programme is aimed at improving the lives of displaced or dispossessed Namibians, and the farms obtained by government for resettlement purposes are usually split into several sections, and dozens of families are resettled on what had previously been one farm.
The transfer of commercial agricultural land is not directly conducted by government, as would-be farmers with a previously disadvantaged background can also obtain farms privately or through affirmative action loans. In both cases, the “Willing buyer, willing seller” principle applies.
Portion 2 (Vergenoeg) of the Farm Andrada No. 924 and remaining extent of Farm Andrada No. 924 situated in Otjozondjupa region was allotted to Bertha Njembo. Unit B, situated in Otjozondjupa was given to Lameck David Uyepa.
Meanwhile, Farm Omukandi No. 64, Unit A, also situated in Otjozondjupa was allotted to Ingridt Tjinouhona Ndjahera and Farm Omukandi No. 64 Unit B in Otjozondjupa was given to Hildegard Iipinge. Farmer Christine Tuna-Omwaameni Nghaamwa was resettled on Farm Omkeer No. 204, Unit B in Otjozondjupa region under the land reform programme.
The other beneficiaries of government’s land reform efforts are Joel Katurota and Ingenesia Kazombaue, who were resettled at Farm Wiums Rus No. 433, Unit A in Omaheke region, while Johannes Bernardus was allotted the remaining extension of Farm Wiums Rus No. 433, Unit B in Omaheke.
Unit C of Farm Wiums Rus No. 433 was given to farmer Nikolaas Mootu, while Unit D of the same farm was allotted to farmer Unomuinjo Mbaeva and Unit E to farmers Hendrik van Wyk, Frans van Wyk and Regina Araes.
Remaining portion Farm Fiesta No. 440, Unit A in Omaheke was allotted to farmer Cecilie Mbaeva, while Portion 2 of the Farm Neu Schwaben No. 148, Unit A situated in Erongo region was given to members of the Okongava/Ondjeombaranga Co-operative LTD.
Empowerment
Not only does government resettle previously disadvantage farmers, but comprehensive pre-resettlement training is also offered by government experts in order to equip farmers with skills and knowledge on modern techniques of farming.
The agriculture ministry in collaboration with Agribank recently held a pre-resettlement training workshop at the Tsjaka Ben Hur Rural Development Centre in the Omaheke region, where the farmers were told to become food self-sufficient and contribute to the national basket.
The four-day training, which started on 28 July and ended 01 August 2025, targeted 34 newly resettled commercial farmers from various parts of the country.
AgriToday spoke to one of the beneficiaries Cecilie Mbaeva who was recently resettled at Farm Fiesta in Omaheke, and she expressed great happiness with the benefits of the training. She said the workshop was an eye opener in terms farming for the future.
“Indeed, I am overwhelmed by this training workshop as I have acquired a lot from topics covered. The instructors were so patient, helpful and explained to us everything we queried,” she said.
Mbaeva farms with cattle and goats and now plans to add poultry farming to her enterprise, as the trainers enlightened and motivated her to pursue poultry farming.
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani, in her speech read on her behalf by Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate during the workshop, said resettled farmers are expected to be self-reliant through concerted efforts of a series of empowerment programmes offered by government.
“The main production activities on all these farms are animal husbandry and crop/gardening activities in areas with water. While today is indeed a joyous occasion, we also want our newly resettled commercial farmers to self-introspect and take note that thousands of Namibians had applied for these farming units and many of these Namibians qualify and meet the criteria for resettlement but could not benefit. It’s simply not possible for everyone to benefit at the same time…”
“Thus, the issuance of the allotment letters today places great responsibility on all the farmers. The target is for resettled farmers to be productive to the extent of being food self-sufficient and ultimately contribute to our country’s GDP. All of you today have joined the other 5 518 resettled commercial farmers that have so far benefitted under the Land Reform Programme,” said the minister.
Since the adoption of the programme, she said that the farmers have participated in different sessions, including farmers’ information days, short courses, excursions, and mentorship programmes in various farming disciplines.
“These post settlement intervention programmes are ongoing, and all our farmers will continue to participate in such events to further boost their farming activities. These events are also planned to provide a platform for mentors/trainers and resettled commercial farmers to collaborate and continue networking in their respective regions. The training content comprised of farm infrastructure and maintenance, livestock and game management, rangeland management, fodder production, feeds and feeding, basic broiler, layer & dual-purpose production, pig production and vegetables establishment as well as marketing.”