German aid to Namibia to increase

GERMANY must still decide whether its next development aid package for Namibia will include money to buy land for resettlement, according to a senior official of the Berlin government.

German Ambassador to Namibia, Wolfgang Massing, has only indicated that his government would “definitely” increase the N$40 million it has already committed to its former colony’s land reform programme. “That is an open question we still need to work on, but it depends on what the Namibian Government wants,” Massing responded when asked if Berlin would make funds available to specifically acquire land for landless Namibians.”There has been an indication [from Germany] that our support for land reform would increase, though I can’t at this stage provide details.”The money for land will be used by the permanent technical committee appointed by the Namibian Cabinet to come up with an action plan on reform.Germany also promised to help with training for resettlement and infrastructure development.No money was given for the purchase of farms.The money Germany has given for land has so far been used by the permanent technical committee appointed by the Namibian Cabinet to come up with an action plan on reform.It was also utilised to provide technical training for resettlement and infrastructure development in rural areas.No money was spent on the purchase of farms.Germany backs land reform but is watching the process closely because of the chaos in neighbouring Zimbabwe.Namibia needs around N$ 900 million for land reform over five years.The ambassador announced that a team of land experts from Germany is expected in Namibia next week to come and look at project proposals by the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation before the two countries finalise their next two-year bilateral co-operation agreement.Namibia was a German colony until World War I and has a German minority, many of whom are landowners.Meanwhile, the two countries yesterday signed two co-operation agreements which would see the former colonial power making approximately N$196 million available over the next seven years.The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, stated that the funding will be channelled to road improvement, rural development, natural resources and economic growth.Namibia, with its 1,8 million people, is the largest recipient of German aid per capita in Africa.German’s aid to Namibia is said to have totalled about N$5 billion since Independence.”That is an open question we still need to work on, but it depends on what the Namibian Government wants,” Massing responded when asked if Berlin would make funds available to specifically acquire land for landless Namibians.”There has been an indication [from Germany] that our support for land reform would increase, though I can’t at this stage provide details.”The money for land will be used by the permanent technical committee appointed by the Namibian Cabinet to come up with an action plan on reform.Germany also promised to help with training for resettlement and infrastructure development.No money was given for the purchase of farms.The money Germany has given for land has so far been used by the permanent technical committee appointed by the Namibian Cabinet to come up with an action plan on reform.It was also utilised to provide technical training for resettlement and infrastructure development in rural areas.No money was spent on the purchase of farms.Germany backs land reform but is watching the process closely because of the chaos in neighbouring Zimbabwe.Namibia needs around N$ 900 million for land reform over five years.The ambassador announced that a team of land experts from Germany is expected in Namibia next week to come and look at project proposals by the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation before the two countries finalise their next two-year bilateral co-operation agreement.Namibia was a German colony until World War I and has a German minority, many of whom are landowners.Meanwhile, the two countries yesterday signed two co-operation agreements which would see the former colonial power making approximately N$196 million available over the next seven years.The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, stated that the funding will be channelled to road improvement, rural development, natural resources and economic growth.Namibia, with its 1,8 million people, is the largest recipient of German aid per capita in Africa.German’s aid to Namibia is said to have totalled about N$5 billion since Independence.