Sell Or Leave - Farmers Warned


New Era (Windhoek)

October 6, 2005
Posted to the web October 6, 2005

Frederick Philander
Windhoek

WHITE commercial farmers refusing to sell farms under the willing buyer, willing seller policy of the Government must pack up their belongings and go and live elsewhere.

This warning was yesterday morning issued by Swapo's Margareth Mensah-Williams during a speech in support of the Communal Land Reform Amendment Bill in the National Council.


She was contributing to the debate on the amendment.

"People must understand that the Namibian liberation struggle was all about the acquisition of land. Therefore, they should not be surprised that such debates normally ignite very strong emotions from among the previously disadvantaged communities.

"However, the Namibian Government should be congratulated for the great strides it has so far achieved in redistributing the land, against all odds, especially those commercial white farmers who are hesitant to sell the farms," Margareth Mensah-Williams said.

She stated that her party was not at all anti-white.

"We don't want to chase white people away and in fact we want them to own land, but on an equal basis and footing with others who are in need of land. Presently, there are those white commercial farmers arguing that the Government is unfair in handling and dealing with the land issue and that Namibia will go the same way as Zimbabwe did in repossession of the land, as if we are copy cats. Let me assure such people that we will deal with the land issue according to the country's laws," said the deputy chairperson of the National Council.

Mensah-Williams also defended the Founding President of the country, Dr Sam Nujoma during her speech.

"There are people in this country constantly trying to dirty the name of former President Sam Nujoma as well as that of the serving President. Former President Sam Nujoma had been elected into the position he presently holds within Swapo and will remain in that position until his term expires in 2007. Thereafter, the party will decide what to do. Until then, we will not allow anyone else to dictate to us on how to handle our affairs," she said.

In support of the Bill, Johnny Hakaye of Swapo stated that the problems of communal land have been haunting all Namibians for a long time.

"The problems not only provoke the Government, but also the ordinary citizens. The land is at present administered in an unsatisfactory way, disadvantaging those that should benefit from the redistribution of land. This is done in spite of the fact that we now have the legal instruments in place. Our people are still suffering at the hands of those who were supposed to care for us, especially the most vulnerable. People are still paying for their common homesteads in villages by those who are being paid by the Government," said Hakaye.

He pleaded with members to do something to change the attitudes of some traditional leaders guilty of perpetually subjugating the Namibian people

"Our people have suffered a great deal at the hands of those who offered themselves to serve as stooges of the racist apartheid regime. Our people should not be allowed to continue living under such apartheid conditions. I call on the responsible ministry to seriously look into the matter of traditional leaders who subjugate our people," Hakaye urged.

"We have members of our society who virtually spent all their youthful years in the struggle for national Independence, but still they have no land. These are the people whose needs should be looked after. These are the Namibians who are currently being dumped, evicted and chased out of their ancestral land by farm owners and landlords," charged Swapo's Henock Kankoshi.

Kankoshi proposed that the allocation of land go hand in hand with training in land management and land utilization for Namibians to produce the best from the land.

According to Aram Martin of Swapo, the amendment in the Bill caters for mechanisms to control illegal squatters in proclaimed towns, villages and settlements.

"The Land Reform Act is a progressive one and it adds value in the sense that community members can acquire the right of leasehold on any piece of land. This lease can be used as collateral to acquire finances for the economic development of land in line with Vision 2030," said Martin, who also expressed concern and dismay about the refusal of traditional leaders to establish regulated fencing in communal land.

Martin welcomed the provision in the Bill that allows land use rights for women.



"It is disheartening to hear that widows are still denied the right to posses land, left by their deceased husbands," Martin said.

The Bill was then read a second and third time after which it was unanimously endorsed by the National Council.

According to the law! Ha! Subject to change without notice!

And so another African nation starts its slide into oblivion and poverty. Subsistence farming must be the new trend for the future.


She stated that her party was not at all anti-white.

"We don't want to chase white people away and in fact we want them to own land, but on an equal basis and footing with others who are in need of land. Presently, there are those white commercial farmers arguing that the Government is unfair in handling and dealing with the land issue and that Namibia will go the same way as Zimbabwe did in repossession of the land, as if we are copy cats. Let me assure such people that we will deal with the land issue according to the country's laws," said the deputy chairperson of the National Council.

Didn't Mugabe say pretty much the same thing back in the 1980s?? And, remember, the land seizures by Mugabe's government have been handled "according to the country's laws". Problem is, he can change the "law" (if you can call it that) pretty much according to his whims.

With Zimbabwe already down the toilet and if South Africa and Namibia follow, it's sure not going to leave many countries left for hunting in southern Africa. I fear the future is not looking too bright over there.

-Bob F.

Kathi,
I have a hunt scheduled for July in Namibia, should I be worried?????
thanks
stan

quote:

WHITE commercial farmers refusing to sell farms under the willing buyer, willing seller policy of the Government must pack up their belongings and go and live elsewhere.

What part of "willing buyer, willing seller" do they not get?

Africa ... Jeez ...

Those waiting to hunt Africa may wait too long.

Hunting in Africa is great, but there are many other wonderful places to hunt. I for one am strongly looking to New Zealand for some great hunts. I am also looking right here in the eastern states. It may not be big game as Africian hunters see it but by damn Spring Gobbler hunting gets my blood flowing.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Hunting in Africa is great, but there are many other wonderful places to hunt. I for one am strongly looking to New Zealand for some great hunts. I am also looking right here in the eastern states. It may not be big game as Africian hunters see it but by damn Spring Gobbler hunting gets my blood flowing.

Unfortunately, there are no elephants and cape buffalo there!

I hunted Buffalo for the first time last month in the Omay and it is twice for me first and last. It just doesn't get my blood flowing. I had a better time last spring hunting Rios.