By Eliaser Ndeyanale
A group calling themselves Landless People’s Movement is calling for the expulsion of Land Reform Minister Utoni Nujoma, saying he is “arrogant” and “unfit to lead the ministry.”
Speaking at a media conference at Katutura’s Commando Hall this morning, former Swapo Party Youth League leader Henny Seibeb accused Nujoma of threatening the landless people.
“Mr Utoni Nujoma is unfit to head that portfolio, he ought to be removed. in fact he must be fired or do an honorable thing and just go away , move aside because we feel that he does not understand the portfolio and he goes on the rampage of threatening people.
“The message to Mr Utoni Nujoma is that we are not afraid of him, nobody is scared of him, in fact I am even fit than him,” said Seibeb.
He further called on the Land Bill to be scrapped or put on hold to allow widespread consultation before its read for the second time in the National Assembly so that interested parties such as civil society and traditional authorities can add their voice.
“The ancestral land question must be introduced in the Bill, because it’s the most pertinent issue I don’t know why the national leadership is scared to address the ancestral land question. I don’t know why it’s so difficult. We are saying the Bill must be removed of the roll.
He has also denied allegations that the movement was tribal, saying the movement is calling for genuine issues. He added that the movement is not only about land, however, it will also address among others the unfair allocation of State resources, tenderprenuership, state capture and the allocation of petroleum exploration licenses (PELs).
Asked to comment on the issue, Nujoma referred Confidente to the statement released by his ministry yesterday. The ministry said to date 510 farms measuring 3.1 million hectares have been acquired on the open market at a cost of N$1.7 billion.
It also revealed that out of the 169 farming units demarcated and allocated in //Karas, 121 such units have been allocated to residents or locals in the said region – representing 72 percent.
Also, out of 312 farming units that were demarcated and allocated to Hardap Region, 212 have been allocated to residents in that region. This represents 68 percent of local residents benefiting from the scheme.
//Karas and Khomas regions each has four percent in terms of their residents being resettled in Hardap, according to ministerial figures.