Generational farm workers that were previously in the corridors of Omaheke region were allotted resettlement farming units. The handover took place in Windhoek and witnessed nine (9) beneficiaries being resettled.
This is part of the Government`s ongoing efforts through the Agricultural (commercial) Land Reform Act, Act No.06 of 1995 which aims of acquiring commercial land for redistribution to previously disadvantaged and landless Namibians. The two farms (Farm Wiums Rus and Farm Fiesta) where the beneficiaries will be resettled are based in Omaheke region and were acquired as of last year (2024) September at a combined value of N$ 28 004 661.26. The farms have a combined size of 11 026 hectares.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries Water and Land Reform, Inge I. Zaamwani highlighted that their ministry has set an ambitious target of acquiring 15 million hectares with five million hectares earmarked for acquisition through the Affirmation Action Loan Scheme (AALS).
Since 1990, the Redistributive Land Reform Programme has seen the Government actively acquire large-scale commercial farms in the freehold sector on a “willing seller-willing buyer” basis. The farms are then carefully sub-divided and allocated to small-scale farmers, empowering them to contribute to the nations` agricultural output and secure their livelihoods.
Inge also noted that despite enormous efforts for land redistribution, there is still a deep concerning troubling trend whereby a significant number of people are forced to graze their livestock and reside in corridors or on severely congested and overcrowded farmlands owing to lack of access to land. A trend that is well observed and prominent in Erongo, Hardap, Kunene, //Kharas, Omaheke, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions.
The minister cautioned that this situation has become a national concern as it affects generational farm workers, many of them who were born and raised on commercial farms.
Since the 2nd National Land Conference that was held in 2018, the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has actively been acquiring land with its limited resources to specifically address the needs of affected communities, thereby ensuring that no citizen is left to wander in corridors.
Inge revealed that the acquired farms have been demarcated into eight (8) farming units of which six (6) of those units has been handed over to the nine beneficiaries. The remaining two units are set to be allocated in the course of time to other specific groups which are in corridors in Omaheke region.
The beneficiaries were encouraged to make use of the land productively and sustainably.
The minister also urged all farm owners to stop the practice of forcefully evicting long-serving generational farm workers and abandoning them in corridors. “We urge all farm owners to exercise restraint from such practice and embrace dialogue in order to seek dignified and sustainable solutions, which uphold the dignity and rights of such individuals, who have contributed to our farms for generations”, she stated.
