Land: Let the expropriation begin

GOVERNMENT last night announced plans to expropriate commercial farms, in an effort to speed up land reform.

Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, making the announcement on NBC radio and television, said farmers who lost their farms would be justly compensated as provided for in the Namibian Constitution. Gurirab said delays in implementing land reform, brought about by the “cumbersome” willing-seller, willing-buyer process left expropriation as the only other way Government would meet the “high public demand for agricultural land”.It was not clear how many farms were to be expropriated and when exactly the process would start.But, sources said eight farms – among them conflict spots Ongombo West, Krumhuk and Kalkpan – had been identified for initial expropriation.”Committed to seeing through the willing-seller, willing-buyer approach, Government has witnessed with dismay and outrage how farm workers are left destitute and dumped with their families and belongings on the roadsides by their former employers,” the Prime Minister said.He said more than 240 000 people were still waiting to be resettled, while commercial farmers continued to make it difficult for Government to buy land by inflating prices.Since 1995, Government has set aside N$20 million a year to buy land.This was increased to N$50 million last year.But still, the State says, farmers have not been forthcoming.The President of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), which represents commercial farmers, Jan de Wet, said last night that his union would react to Government’s announcement today.A few people who commented on the announcement last night dismissed it as “electioneering” by Swapo.Others thought it was a threat to force commercial farmers into selling their farms at low prices.It is not the first time Government has threatened to expropriate land.At the Swapo Party congress two years ago, President Sam Nujoma said the willing-buyer-willing-seller policy would be revisited if it failed to serve its purpose.Last week, Deputy Minister of Lands Isak Katali warned farmers not to push Government by abusing the protection they received when farmworkers and unionists were restrained from carrying out threats to invade their farms.He accused “many” white farmers of failing to help Government resolve the land reform issue, and said the “writing is on the wall” for those hiding behind Government protection.Government recently stopped the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union leadership from resettling some of their followers at Ongombo West after they were dismissed by the owners.The Commercial Land Reform Act empowers Government to force farmers to sell identified farms to the State, but Namibia has not resorted to such action, despite the reluctance of farmers to sell their farms.Gurirab appealed to donors and foreign partners to continue their support for Namibia’s land reform programme.”Government will ensure that land reform and expropriation of land in Namibia is done in accordance with the Namibian Constitution and the relevant legislation,” the Prime Minister said.Gurirab’s announcement coincided with the visit to Namibia of Zimbabwean Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.Zimbabwe has forced hundreds of white farmers off their land in land grabs which have destroyed the country’s agricultural industry.Last year De Wet warned fellow farmers to stop bickering and complaining about land reform, and “face reality”.He said Namibian farmers had a major opportunity to help prevent Zimbabwe-style land seizures by offering solutions such as making more land available.Gurirab said delays in implementing land reform, brought about by the “cumbersome” willing-seller, willing-buyer process left expropriation as the only other way Government would meet the “high public demand for agricultural land”. It was not clear how many farms were to be expropriated and when exactly the process would start. But, sources said eight farms – among them conflict spots Ongombo West, Krumhuk and Kalkpan – had been identified for initial expropriation. “Committed to seeing through the willing-seller, willing-buyer approach, Government has witnessed with dismay and outrage how farm workers are left destitute and dumped with their families and belongings on the roadsides by their former employers,” the Prime Minister said. He said more than 240 000 people were still waiting to be resettled, while commercial farmers continued to make it difficult for Government to buy land by inflating prices. Since 1995, Government has set aside N$20 million a year to buy land. This was increased to N$50 million last year. But still, the State says, farmers have not been forthcoming. The President of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), which represents commercial farmers, Jan de Wet, said last night that his union would react to Government’s announcement today. A few people who commented on the announcement last night dismissed it as “electioneering” by Swapo. Others thought it was a threat to force commercial farmers into selling their farms at low prices. It is not the first time Government has threatened to expropriate land. At the Swapo Party congress two years ago, President Sam Nujoma said the willing-buyer-willing-seller policy would be revisited if it failed to serve its purpose. Last week, Deputy Minister of Lands Isak Katali warned farmers not to push Government by abusing the protection they received when farmworkers and unionists were restrained from carrying out threats to invade their farms. He accused “many” white farmers of failing to help Government resolve the land reform issue, and said the “writing is on the wall” for those hiding behind Government protection. Government recently stopped the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union leadership from resettling some of their followers at Ongombo West after they were dismissed by the owners. The Commercial Land Reform Act empowers Government to force farmers to sell identified farms to the State, but Namibia has not resorted to such action, despite the reluctance of farmers to sell their farms. Gurirab appealed to donors and foreign partners to continue their support for Namibia’s land reform programme. “Government will ensure that land reform and expropriation of land in Namibia is done in accordance with the Namibian Constitution and the relevant legislation,” the Prime Minister said. Gurirab’s announcement coincided with the visit to Namibia of Zimbabwean Information Minister Jonathan Moyo. Zimbabwe has forced hundreds of white farmers off their land in land grabs which have destroyed the country’s agricultural industry. Last year De Wet warned fellow farmers to stop bickering and complaining about land reform, and “face reality”. He said Namibian farmers had a major opportunity to help prevent Zimbabwe-style land seizures by offering solutions such as making more land available.