Alvenus F. Dreyer
Learning from media reports that Namibia’s refined resettlement policy will be ready by mid- 2022 restored new hope and expectations.
According to this particular policy - which is currently under review - its aim is to take corrective measures.
A corrective measure is a measure to resolve existing non-conformities, and to prevent their recurrence. In simple terms, it is to put right something that is wrong.
Considering the many outcries from landless citizens over the years, it is quite evident that there are wrongs in the land distribution processes of Namibia.
Land is a key economic resource inextricably linked to access, use and control over other natural resources, and this is critical in achieving sustainable social and economic development.
The national resettlement programme aimed at acquiring 30 million hectares of agricultural land by 2025. Thus far, less than 10 million has been acquired.
This rather slow and/or ineffective acquisition of farmland, mainly driven by the willing-buyer, willing-seller concept and expensive land prices, makes it difficult for the redistribution of farmland.
However, the skewed resettlement process also continues to couple the willing-buyer willing-seller system, putting the majority of previously disadvantaged Namibians at the periphery of extreme poverty and destitution.
It is to be seen if the refined policy is serious about honouring the bravery and steadfastness of Namibia’s forefathers, who with tooth and nail fought for the land of the indigenous communities.
If the refined policy is serious about restoring the dignity, pride and socio-economic wellbeing of the previously disadvantaged and oppressed Namibians, then this refined policy will do away with self-centred, mafia-styled, capitalist clauses like means testing and willing-buyer willing-seller.
Just as we are looking forward to the refined resettlement policy, we are also looking forward to be availed with findings that came as a result of the ancestral land rights’ commission inquiry.
Perhaps on an advisory note, let us use Vision 2030 as the target year in which we can with all honesty and transparency have evidence-based facts and figures about having corrected Namibia’s land issues, in particular the skewed resettlement programme.
Let the refined resettlement policy answer the calls and cries for a genuinely comprehensive, transparent and justifiable redistribution of the remaining more than 20 million hectares of agricultural land in Namibia.
*Alvenus F. Dreyer is a proponent for social and economic justice, born and bred in Namibia.