The systematic dispossession of land under colonialism and apartheid has left Namibia with a highly skewed racial distribution in land ownership and agricultural production.
But with the country independent for 25 years and with three successive governments in power, colonialism and apartheid cannot continue to be the indefinite punching bags for the nation’s frustration over land.
Admittedly, there hasn’t been any gratifying inroads made in land acquisition – something blamed not very much on political will, or lack of it thereof, but on the system and approach employed to supposedly rectify the situation.
The land crisis has reached monumental proportions in recent years such that it has grown from being just a food security question, so much so that even urban dwellers are struggling to find a piece on which to build their homes.
When land becomes so scarce for even residential purposes, it should be admitted that the crisis has reached alarming levels. That land has become a highly emotive and political issue should therefore not surprise anyone.
The current campaign led by Affirmative Repositioning, succeeding other attempts by similar lobby groups, highlights the pressing need for land reform throughout our country.
Our current land reform policy has done nothing than maintain the status quo of minority ownership dominance as well as advancing the individualistic interests of emerging black elites at the expense of mostly young Namibian professionals and the rural poor.
It must be stated, though, that since coming to power President Hage Geingob has been clear, both in theory and practice, about this growing crisis.
In theory, the President has spoken at length about the need to go back to the constitution and trigger the clause on expropriation – as a last resort.
Geingob has also raised the need to target land owned by absentee landlords, who would be compensated for their land.
In practical terms, a lot has happened since March 21. True, patience has been wearing thin among the country’s landless masses and it could be understood why many can no longer wait for what they perceive as a slow motion towards equitable land ownership.
From forming a ministry of land reform to establishing a Cabinet committee to seek solutions to land, it could be argued that the President has shown great will in addressing this burning issue.
Recently, the minister of urban and rural development, Sophia Shaningwa, ordered all local authorities across the length and breadth of the nation to provide her with how much land is available in the respective localities.
The Cabinet committee tasked to find land solutions, led by Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, acted fast and reported its recommendations to the nation this week.
One recommendation that stood out for us is that of stopping the auctioning of public land, a trend that has out-priced the masses for many years.
This is because monied land barons, including owners of rental flats, arrive at these auctions with huge bags of cash that the majority of young Namibians have no access to.
Therefore these auctions have become the playground for rich Namibians only, especially businessmen, some of whom draw pleasure in the bidding game against their peers at such functions.
With a mass land occupation campaign scheduled for this month by Affirmative Repositioning, Namibia is at the crossroads as far as land is concerned.
The campaign highlights the frustration of the masses. But the first 100 days of Geingob at State House have revived the hopes of many landless Namibians – hence the need to exercise caution and perhaps patience.
We have learned this week that the ruling party Swapo had called a meeting with Affirmative Repositioning, which served as a source of hope for many.
Ultimately the meeting, originally slated for yesterday, did not take place due to its chairperson being delayed in Germany. Although we are not privy to the agenda of the proposed meeting, it is our understanding and hope that this gathering was meant to propose more solutions to the issue of land in the country.
In the final analysis, the manner and pace at which the Geingob administration has handled the subject of land has been a source of great confidence. Government should keep its foot on the pedal on this issue if the lasting solution is to be eventually hammered out.