Rudolf Gaiseb
Land management deputy executive director within the ministry of land reform Alfred Sikopo says once communal land is established in the Khomas region, they will establish the Khomas Communal Board. This is in terms of the Communal Land Reform Act. “The Khomas Communal Land Board will consist of representatives from the /Khomanin Traditional Authority, organised farmers’ union in the region, conservancies, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry, Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Wafer and Land Reform, and the Khomas Chief Regional Officer,” he said during a /Khomanin convention last weekend. The ministry recently bought two commercial farms, and handed them to the /Khomanin as communal land.
The aim is to ensure residents of the Khomas region who do not have land are provided land for grazing.
The law requires that before new communal land is established, the National Assembly must approve such a proposed establishment of new communal land. Thereafter, a proclamation can be placed in a Government Gazette by the president. Human rights activist Rosa Namises, called for the community members’ inclusion in the land board.
“You have not called the community. Are they not part and parcel of this communal land board? It is endangering the community if they are not there,” she said. In response, Sikopo said the communities are also part of it.
He added four women from the /Khomanin will deliberately be appointed to the board. Two who are engaged in farming operations in the board’s area, and two women who have expertise in the functions of a board.
The board is expected to exercise control over the allocation and cancellation of customary land rights by chiefs or traditional authorities under the Act.
It will consider and decide on applications for a right of leasehold under the Act; establish and maintain a register and a system of registration for recording the allocation, transfer and cancellation of customary land rights and rights of leasehold under the Act.
Sikopo added that the ministry will capacitate the Khomas Communal Land Board and the /Khomanin Traditional Authority by providing training, and information dissemination for the successful implementation of the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act, 2002, as amended.