Sostenus Wilherm
The government has allocated farming land to 101 people in Tsintsabis, bringing an end to a longstanding wait for certainty over farming units at Farm Tsintsabis No. 881 and Farm Urwald No. 1150.
Agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani handed over allotment letters to the recipients on Saturday, describing the occasion as an important milestone in Namibia’s land reform programme and a new beginning for the Tsintsabis community.
The allocation comprises 38 farming units at Farm Tsintsabis and 63 at Farm Urwald. The two farms were acquired by the government in 1992, three years before the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act of 1995 came into force.
According to Zaamwani, the farms were acquired primarily for food production and income-generating activities, with the broader objective of improving the socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of people through productive use of agricultural land.
“Today marks an important step in the implementation of Namibia’s land reform programme and opens a new chapter of opportunity, responsibility and hope for the community of Tsintsabis,” Zaamwani said.
She said the handover also represented progress in resolving “long standing legacy issues” surrounding the allocation of land on the two farms.
Zaamwani said land remains central to Namibia’s social and economic development because it supports agriculture, food production, livelihoods and economic empowerment.
“Through the land reform programme, the government continues to acquire and allocate agricultural land to eligible Namibians who were historically denied equitable access,” she said.
However, the minister warned that receiving an allotment letter should not be viewed as the conclusion of the land reform process.
“An allotment letter is not the end of the land reform process; it is the beginning of a significant responsibility,” she said.
Zaamwani called on the 101 recipients to ensure that the land does not remain idle, urging them to demonstrate commitment, discipline and accountability.
“Agricultural land cannot be allowed to remain idle,” she said.
She further urged the recipients to maintain infrastructure and resources entrusted to them and to develop their farming units according to their agricultural potential.
Whether through livestock farming, crop production or another approved activity, Zaamwani said the ultimate objective should be to establish viable and sustainable farming enterprises.
She said the success of land reform should not only be measured by the number of people allocated land, but also by the economic and social impact created from that land.
“Beyond the allocation of the land, success must also be measured by the lives improved, the food produced, the jobs created and the communities strengthened,” Zaamwani said.
The minister also acknowledged that successful resettlement requires more than simply providing access to land.
She said beneficiaries require agricultural extension services, technical knowledge, infrastructure, financing, agricultural inputs and access to markets.
“This requires sustained cooperation among the Ministry, the Oshikoto Regional Resettlement Committee, regional structures, development partners, financial institutions and other stakeholders,” she said.
Zaamwani encouraged the new landholders to make use of available support services, seek professional advice and, where appropriate, establish cooperatives, market collectively, pursue value addition and develop partnerships that can improve access to inputs and markets.
She also stressed the importance of environmental sustainability, given Namibia’s fragile ecosystems, unpredictable rainfall and limited water resources.
The beneficiaries were urged to protect soil and vegetation, manage grazing responsibly, prevent land degradation, conserve biodiversity and use water efficiently.
“The land allocated today must remain productive for future generations,”
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi described the handover as more than the issuing of allotment letters, saying it represented the government’s commitment to land reform and the creation of sustainable livelihoods.
“Today’s occasion is about more than the handing over of allotment letters. It is about giving effect to the government’s commitment to land reform and resettlement, while creating opportunities for our people to access land, establish sustainable livelihoods and contribute to agricultural production,” Kathindi said.
Kathindi said the allocations were particularly significant for people whose land allocations had remained outstanding for some time.
He credited the collaborative efforts of the Oshikoto regional council, the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform and other stakeholders for bringing the matter to the point of finalisation.
The governor also acknowledged Guinas constituency councillor Moses Khumub, saying his concerns regarding the beneficiaries’ lack of security of tenure helped bring the longstanding issue to the attention of relevant authorities.
Kathindi said the allotment letters would allow recipients to plan, invest in and develop their farming units with greater confidence.
“I therefore encourage all beneficiaries to use the land productively, manage their farming units responsibly, comply with the conditions attached to their allocations, and contribute meaningfully to agricultural production and the development of our region,” he said.
Kathindi further encouraged the new landholders to explore value addition, market opportunities and partnerships that could strengthen their agricultural activities.
Zaamwani said the government would continue improving the systems through which land is acquired, developed and allocated, while strengthening regional structures and partnerships aimed at supporting resettled farmers.
