SWAKOPMUND: The local government is taking immediate actions to alleviate the pressures on communities grappling with overcrowding of livestock and severe land degradation. This move comes as part of the government’s unwavering commitment to uphold social justice through the protection of resettlement rights.
According to NAMPA, Neville Andre Itope, there is a shared conviction that the land reform program will yield positive outcomes if there is an improvement in the conditions of communities dealing with overcrowding and land degradation. This belief is reflected in the newly approved Resettlement Policy of 2023. Itope expressed these views while addressing the Erongo Regional Consultative Meeting on the Review of the Resettlement Criteria under the Resettlement Policy of 2023, which took place in Swakopmund on Wednesday.
The meeting’s primary objective was to confront the current challenges head-on and devise practical solutions for the equitable resettlement of affected populations. It also served to reassess and perfect the existing national resettlement criteria, ensuring they are robust enough to overcome any potential obstacles or shortcomings that could impair their effectiveness.
During his speech, Governor Itope highlighted the urgent calls from dispossessed communities for a swift delivery of land resources. Additionally, he pointed out the growing demand among the youth for land allocations to spur economic development. He emphasized the national interest in promoting the empowerment of women, marginalized individuals, vulnerable groups, and the seamless integration of veterans into productive societal roles.
The National Resettlement Policy of 2001 was initially instituted with the intention of rendering the beneficiaries self-sufficient in various domains including food production, self-employment, and the development of income-generating skills. However, over time, it became evident that the policy was falling short in its efforts to adequately address the complex issue of land redistribution, a flaw attributed to the absence of a comprehensive review since its initial implementation.
In light of these challenges, Governor Itope urged the workshop participants to align the resettlement criteria with the objectives set forth during the second National Land Conference. This alignment is essential for adequately catering to the needs of dispossessed communities, youth, women, marginalized groups, and generational farm workers, among others.
Nangolo Petrus Canisius, the Director of Land Reform and Chairperson of the Resettlement Criteria Committee within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, added that the Resettlement Policy is a legal document necessitating public input in any democratic nation. He acknowledged that the call for a policy review is also a response to concerns raised during the first and second National Land Conferences, compounded by the significant population growth observed since the policy’s inception.