Land grabbing called off

namib times 28 july 2015; 28-07-15

“We’ll not be occupying land on 31 July 2015. We’ll be clearing land on which our homes will be built,” the AR movement officially informed their followers via social media, over the weekend.  The threat of illegal land grabbing was successfully averted, when President Hage Geingob took the bull by the horns and reached an amicable agreement with the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement on Friday in the capital city. The AR on Sunday issued a statement suspending the land occupation.

After the Namibian nation and Government had been on the edge over the past few weeks as the 31 July deadline drew closer and law enforcement agencies convened to discuss a plan of action should members of the youth forcefully occupy land in support of the AR, tensions have now subsided.

The Government and AR have agreed to embark on a massive urban land serving program, which will lead to the servicing of 200 000 plots countrywide, in line with the “war on poverty” as declared by President Geingob during his inauguration in March this year and during the 2015 State of the Nation address in April.

There shall be a massive nationwide project earmarked towards servicing of urban land and land allocation. Identified land in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Oshakati will be serviced first.

It was further resolved that the period between 29 July to 5 August, will be dedicated to a nationwide clearance of identified urban land. The aforementioned cleared urban land will be serviced, and is for future allocation.

Under the Massive Urban Land Servicing Project, Namibians will be called upon to voluntarily participate in servicing identified urban land for future allocation.

To that effect, a technical committee will be established to work out all modalities regarding the Massive Urban Land Servicing Project. The AR is part of the Technical Committee that will iron out all details and begin with the implementations of Land Servicing. It was resolved that Amupanda will serve on the established technical committee.

This means that the Housing backlog, currently standing at 100 000, will be addressed. All Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Landless applicants will be catered for because they are only 50 000.

Those who did not apply, will still have 50 000 plots available for them. “This deal is a 100% achievement for AR Applicants and landless people.

It is also good for the

country,” the AR stated in their official announcement after the six hour long meeting with Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement leaders Job Amupanda, Dimbu-

lukeni Nauyoma and George Kambala on Friday.  President Geingob acknowledged the fact that the affordability of land, as well as access to it, is a problem.

President Geingob yesterday inspected the available land in Windhoek’s Goreangab and Cimbebasia areas where the servicing of urban land will commence tomorrow.

The Goreangab area is located on the outskirts of Katutura where over 300 people attempted to

occupy land in the morning hours of 12 July,

while Cimbebasia is a suburb situated in southern Windhoek.

Walking around and inspecting the area, Geingob was briefed about the available land based on the area maps by Mayor of the City of Windhoek (CoW) Muesee Kazapua, CoW Councillors and other CoW officials.

He was accompanied by Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa; Minister of Presidential Affairs Frans Kapofi and Governor of the Khomas Region Laura McLeod-Katjirua.

Meanwhile, the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has described the agreement reached

by Government and the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement as a milestone.

In a statement issued on Monday, Nudo presidential spokesperson Joseph

Kauandenge said the agreement reached is a milestone, adding that “highly inflated egos have been replaced with humility, common sense and willingness for dialogue.”

However, Kauandenge cautioned Government that now is the time for them to fast-track development

programmes that have been “sitting idle for too long now and are collecting dust.”

“If the desire to serve is there, no more should this nation be held hostage like it was by the AR or any other agency for that matter, just because Government failed to have the foresight of issues affecting its own citizens,” he said.

“This Government’s action  and relevance should not be measured in terms of how much pressure must be brought against it for it to start implementing developmental programmes, but it should be measured by the length to which Government will go to address pertinent issues affecting the people of this country,” he said.

Kauandenge said there are many problems confronting the people of Namibia, amongst them the high unemployment rate especially amongst young people.

“While Government pleads insufficient funds on one hand, we see, smell and hear of wasteful spending and enrichments of some heavy top earners.

Our question is how long before the youth start demanding employment?

How long before those with degrees start demanding employment?

How long before those who have to fork out thousands every month for basic services like water and electricity demand better tariffs?” he questioned.

He then called on the government to be pro-active rather than reactive to issues that affect Namibians.
(additional reporting:

NAMPA)