OMITARA- The government on Wednesday handed the remaining 2 484 hectares of farm Rosebank in the Omaheke Region to 53 members of Omitara Youth Group, who last year benefited from the Namibian-German Special Initiative Programme (NGSIP).
Initially, each of the youth received five goats of the 400 donated last year by NGSIP but were without land for goat farming.
Government purchased farm Rosebank, which is located in the Okorukambe constituency, two years ago.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement, Theo Diergaardt, said the political struggle of Namibia was about land, so that all Namibians will have equal opportunity and access to land.
“Despite the scarcity of land the government, through the ministry (of lands), is working hard to make it possible that those without land get land,” he said, adding that Wednesday’s occasion was testimony to such commitment.
The Minister said the implementation of a resettlement programme is not an easy task and there is growing demand for land by Namibians while the supply of such land is somehow not forthcoming.
He, therefore, encouraged the members of Omitara youth group to work very hard and productively in making sure that the farming unit allocated is used sustainably to increase food production and food security in Namibia.
“Let us have information meetings on the farm where we share achievements and challenges,” he said.
“Please make sure that we achieve the objective of the resettlement programme, which is to improve the welfare of resettled farmers,” added Diergaardt.
He reminded the youth that the ministry has entered an agreement with Agribank, whereby resettled farmers could have access to loans of up to N$200 000 that could be used for farming.
On his part, Omaheke Regional Governor, Festus Ueitele, warned beneficiaries not to rent out government land to other farmers.
“If I hear that any of you is renting out this land allocated to you, I will chase you out myself I won’t need permission from anyone,” he warned.
“Do not turn this land into squatter camps,” he added.
The Okorukambe Constituency Councillor, who is also the Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Kilus Nguvauva, commended government for its effort in resettling Namibians.
“This is clear testimony that government is working tirelessly finding landless Namibians land,” he said.
Nguvauva warned the beneficiaries not to misuse the land but to use it to their advantage and to be productive.
“Remember that this is still government land and it can be revoked if found that it is not used for its intended purpose,” he said.
On his part, National Youth Council secretary-general, Mandela Kapere, said, “Indeed what we are seeing here is youth empowerment.
“What has happened here will be replicated throughout the entire of Namibia,” he said, adding that others should see the example of Nguvauva and the Omaheke Regional Council and their development partners.
Dominicus Ganeb, 31, who is one of the beneficiaries, thanked the government for uplifting his community out of poverty.
“This is a clear indication that government is trying to help, therefore, what is left now is to help ourselves,” he said.
Ganeb was one of the beneficiaries who received five of the 400 goats donated by the NGSIP two years ago.
He said his goats have now grown to 31 and now that he has land he will make sure that he will be a leading example.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa