Republican Party cries foul over Ongombo expropriation

REPUBLICAN Party President Henk Mudge yesterday voiced his party’s disappointment with Government’s expropriation of the Ongombo-West farm, 30 km north-east of Windhoek.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Mudge questioned Government’s motives behind the move last week. Mudge said according to a document issued by the Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, N$3,7 million was paid for the 4 000-hectare farm.The average price paid so far for expropriated farms was N$158 per hectare, but in this case, Government paid N$925 per hectare, he said.”What is the real reason why the Government was prepared to pay N$3,7 million for 4 000 hectares if they could have bought 24 000 hectares for the same amount – in other words, six farms of 4 000 hectares each,” Mudge asked.He also called it a “strange move” that the Prime Minister’s office had provided food, blankets and tents to a protest gathering organised by the Namibian Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) at the entrance to the farm earlier this year.The union then demanded successfully the reinstatement of six farm workers who, along with their families, had been evicted from the farm after deserting the workplace without permission.Mudge said whereas the Wiese family had been under pressure to reinstate the farm workers and their families, they have now been given three months to vacate the farm, taking all their current employees with them.”On the one hand,” he said, “the Government is resettling people on commercial farms, only to chase those previously disadvantaged people who have been living on the farms all their lives off the farms and force them to become unemployed.”The RP once again wants to confirm that it is and will always be in full support for the principle of land reform in Namibia, but we want to make it very clear that we cannot and will never support the way in which it is being implemented by the Swapo Government,” Mudge said.The Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation was unable to comment yesterday, as the Permanent Secretary was said to be unavailable until Monday.Mudge said according to a document issued by the Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, N$3,7 million was paid for the 4 000-hectare farm.The average price paid so far for expropriated farms was N$158 per hectare, but in this case, Government paid N$925 per hectare, he said.”What is the real reason why the Government was prepared to pay N$3,7 million for 4 000 hectares if they could have bought 24 000 hectares for the same amount – in other words, six farms of 4 000 hectares each,” Mudge asked.He also called it a “strange move” that the Prime Minister’s office had provided food, blankets and tents to a protest gathering organised by the Namibian Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) at the entrance to the farm earlier this year.The union then demanded successfully the reinstatement of six farm workers who, along with their families, had been evicted from the farm after deserting the workplace without permission. Mudge said whereas the Wiese family had been under pressure to reinstate the farm workers and their families, they have now been given three months to vacate the farm, taking all their current employees with them.”On the one hand,” he said, “the Government is resettling people on commercial farms, only to chase those previously disadvantaged people who have been living on the farms all their lives off the farms and force them to become unemployed.”The RP once again wants to confirm that it is and will always be in full support for the principle of land reform in Namibia, but we want to make it very clear that we cannot and will never support the way in which it is being implemented by the Swapo Government,” Mudge said.The Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation was unable to comment yesterday, as the Permanent Secretary was said to be unavailable until Monday.