Namibians from all walks of life are mourning the passing of the country’s first president, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma.

He died on 8 February aged of 95 in Windhoek. 

Revered as the father of the Namibian nation, Nujoma was an anti-apartheid icon and, foremost, a figure of the Namibian liberation struggle. 

New Era journalist Lahja Nashuuta (LN) recently sat with /Khomanin Traditional Authority Chief Julianne Gawanas (JG) to reflect on the life and legacy the now-departed Nujoma.

LN: As a community, how are you coming to terms with the passing of the founding president?

JG: The Damara Traditional Council is deeply saddened by the passing of Founding President Sam Nujoma. He played a critical role in securing the country’s independence we left Namibia to go into exile with the sole purpose of making our independence a reality and so that we, as Namibians, can sit here today in peace and reflect on our history.

As Namibian citizens, we must acknowledge and accept that he is indeed the father of the Namibian nation. He will always remain close to our hearts. When I think about this great son of the soil, so many memories come to mind. But now is the time to honour his legacy and let him rest in peace.

LN: From your perspective as a community, what would you say is Nujoma’s legacy in terms of land reform?

JG: The late Nujoma went into exile to fight for independence. More specifically, to reclaim land that was forcefully taken away from its rightful owners by colonial powers. Historically, we lost our land due to past injustices under colonial rule and genocide committed by the Germans against our people. 

Because of this land dispossession, we lost our traditions, norms and way of life. Today, many of our ancestral lands can only be identified by the graves of our ancestors. Much of the land remains in the hands of private commercial farmers.

My father had a relationship with the founding president before he went into exile. They engaged in discussions, particularly regarding matters related to traditional authority. In the 1970s, my father even met him in New York. Before independence, there was an understanding that those who had lost their ancestral land would have it returned once Namibia gained its freedom.

However, after independence many Namibians returned to the lands of their forebears. Unfortunately, for the /Khomanin people, we could not return to our ancestral lands, as it was already occupied by private commercial farmers. When independence was achieved, the discussion about ancestral land was reopened. The government eventually shifted its stance, opting instead to purchase farms to resettle landless communities, rather than returning ancestral lands outright.

Our late president Hage Geingob and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba both played a crucial role in reviving the ancestral land debate. However, the expected progress has been made. The government faces challenges in acquiring land, particularly in the Khomas region, where most of the /Khomanin community members remain scattered. Much of the land is still in the hands of private commercial farmers.

LN: Despite the slow progress, what would you say are the highlights in terms of land allocation to landless members of the /Khomanin community?

JG: So far, the government acquired 8 000 hectares of land in the Khomas region to be designated as communal land for the landless /Khomanin people. This farm, known as the Groot Korasieplaats Farm, will be divided into two units.

As a traditional council, we are considering utilising one portion that was previously a hunting farm as a business venture for the traditional authority to generate income. The second portion will be allocated to community members for resettlement. Currently, we are waiting for the government to finalise the establishment of the communal land area. 

However, we are facing challenges, particularly concerning people who have been evicted and are currently living in precarious conditions. As a traditional authority, we are exploring the possibility of temporarily resettling those in emergency situations first while awaiting the completion of the land allocation process.

Additionally, our leadership has not yet conducted a thorough site visit to the farm. We are planning a visit to assess the land’s suitability, determine where people can be resettled, and evaluate the farm’s capacity in terms of livestock. This assessment is crucial to ensure sustainable land use and avoid land degradation.

LN: In terms of socio-economic welfare, what are some of the challenges faced by the /Khomanin community?

JG: As a traditional authority and community, we face numerous challenges, mainly due to our long-standing landlessness. Many of our people are subsistence farmers in the Windhoek area, keeping small livestock. However, the expansion of Windhoek’s city boundaries has further complicated our situation, as many of our people who had been habitually residing on the outskirts of the city are now being displaced.

Acquiring the farm is a good start, but we are urging the government to facilitate the purchase of additional farms to accommodate our people. Currently, many /Khomanin people live in temporary settlements, uncertain of their future. If more farms are secured, we will be able to provide land to all landless members of our community. Once we have access to sufficient land, we can fully engage in farming and ensure that our people benefit from government assistance programmes.

LN: How is the expansion of Windhoek’s boundaries affecting the /Khomanin Traditional Authority and its members from becoming self-sustainable? 

JG: Many of our people are unemployed. With Windhoek’s expansion to areas such as Groot Aub, they are now required to pay taxes and service fees. This places an additional financial burden on an already-struggling community.

Furthermore, being recognised as a traditional authority is not enough if we do not have jurisdiction over our own land. Decision-making processes regarding land allocation and government assistance programmes are based on jurisdiction. Because we lack jurisdiction over our area, we are often excluded from key discussions. As a result, we find ourselves in a position where we are acknowledged in name but lack the authority to make impactful decisions on behalf of our people. This has left the /Khomanin community in a vulnerable position, where we continue to struggle for land ownership and full participation in national development programmes.

-lnashuuta@gmail.com