Land is the backbone of economic empowerment, cultural identity, and self-determination. 

For black Namibians, land represents far more than a means of survival — it is the foundation for restoring dignity and justice after decades of colonial exploitation. 

However, 34 years after independence, the agricultural sector remains one of the most untransformed sectors in Namibia. Without addressing the inequalities in land ownership and restoring land rights, black Namibians risk remaining visitors in their own country.

Historical context: Dispossession and inequality

The systematic dispossession of indigenous communities of their land was a key strategy of Afrikaner colonialism. Black Namibians were ejected from their ancestral lands, which were then redistributed to white settlers. This process was facilitated through state mechanisms, including discriminatory legislation and resource allocation (Werner, 1993).

By the time Namibia gained independence in 1990, approximately 70% of the country’s arable land was owned by white commercial farmers, who made up less than 5% of the population (Adams & Werner, 1990). 

Today, the imbalance remains stark, with white farmers continuing to dominate the commercial farming sector while black Namibians are confined to resource-poor communal lands. 

Farm ownership, absentee landlords

One glaring issue in the agricultural sector is the prevalence of absentee landowners. Many large farms are owned by individuals who neither reside on nor actively manage the land. These “absent landlords” often lease the land for profit or leave it underutilised, depriving local communities of economic opportunities and contributing to rural poverty.

According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (2020), more than 30% of commercial farmland is owned by individuals or entities who do not reside in Namibia.

Meanwhile, communal farmers, predominantly black, are confined to overcrowded and environmentally degraded areas, where they struggle to sustain their livelihoods. The dual agricultural system, a legacy of apartheid, continues perpetuating inequality in wealth and land ownership.

Challenges to land reform

While the government has implemented policies such as the National Land Reform Programme, progress has been hampered by bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and insufficient political will. 

A lack of transparency in the resettlement process has further exacerbated the issue, with some beneficiaries of land reform being elites rather than the rural poor who need land the most (Harring & Odendaal, 2012).

The government’s “willing buyer, willing seller” model has proven ineffective, as landowners often demand exorbitant prices, making it difficult to acquire and redistribute land at scale. Moreover, the absence of post-settlement support — such as access to credit, infrastructure, and training — has left many resettled farmers unable to make productive use of the land they receive.

The State’s role in restoring justice

The restoration of land rights and equitable land distribution requires a strong, decisive state. To address the enduring inequalities in the agricultural sector, the state must:

Revise land acquisition models: Transition from the “willing buyer, willing seller” model to a more assertive framework, such as expropriation with fair compensation. 

Regulate absentee landlords: Introduce policies to penalise or reclaim underutilised land owned by absentee landlords for redistribution to small-scale and communal farmers.

Provide post-settlement support: Invest in infrastructure, irrigation systems, access to markets, and agricultural training for resettled farmers to ensure that redistributed land contributes to national food security and economic growth.

Strengthen monitoring, accountability: Establish transparent mechanisms to oversee land reform programmes and ensure land reaches the intended beneficiaries, particularly marginalised communities.

Expanding the vision for land justice

Land reform must go beyond redistribution to address the structural inequalities entrenched in Namibia’s agricultural economy. This includes creating opportunities for communal farmers to transition to commercial farming, incentivising youth participation in agriculture, and ensuring that women — who are often excluded from land ownership — have equal access to land rights.

Further, land reform should incorporate environmental sustainability. Namibia is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity. Policies must balance land redistribution with measures to combat desertification, protect water resources, and promote climate-resilient farming practices.

A Call for Justice

Land reform is not merely an economic issue; it is a moral imperative. The enduring disparities in land ownership undermine the principles of justice and equity upon which Namibia was founded. Without land, black Namibians cannot fully participate in the nation’s economic and social life. 

As Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the Economic Freedom Fighters aptly stated: “Land is everything.”

*Lot Ndamanomhata is graduate of Public Management, Journalism and Communication. This article reflects his views and he writes entirely in his personal capacity.