Walvis Bay
President Hage Geingob said that the land issue, as initiated by the Affirmative Repositioning movement, could have been a disaster were it not handled properly as issues such as land have potential to trigger unnecessary wars.
“I can tell you sometimes you go to war when diplomacy and dialogue fails. Wars a caused by miss understandings and this land issue could have been that of a misunderstanding. We know that people need land and shelter. So only disagree on modalities on how to get them, so why not team up and work on it,” Geingob at the 15th Anniversary gala dinner of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group in Swakopmund last week Thursday.
“You see wars are not triggered by major issues sometimes, in Africa, but smaller issues can ignite a fire and can disrupt the peace and stability we are enjoying today. So we had engage with those young people [Affirmative Repositioning leaders] to reach a solution,” the president said.
In July the President reached an agreement with the Affirmative Repositioning movement to pilot the servicing of 200 000 residential ervents in Windhoek, Oshakati and Walvis Bay. The movement had given 31 July as the deadline for government to avail urban land to the young people in need of erven to construct houses.
Geingob then said that the government will away do everything in its power to avert any disaster.
He added that giving the government a deadline, getting land illegally will also not solve anything.
“To do what with the land, you do not eat or sleep on it. It can only be useful if you put it to good use or put shelter on it,” said Geingob.
He then urged Namibians not to take peace and stability for granted is it came at a high price.
“We have done everything to provide peace and stability. Namibia is a country blessed it a unique leadership. Founding father, Sam Nujoma laid the foundation and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba brought stability, while I am tasked to bring prosperity,” said the president.