Farmers' union seeks to allay land reform fears

The Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) has sought to allay fears that the country is heading for a Zimbabwe-style fast-track land reform programme. This follows a second round of letters notifying farmers that the government intended to purchase their land under its reform programme and was willing to pay "just compensation". Like most southern African countries, Namibia has been grappling with the thorny issue of addressing post-colonial land imbalances. According to official figures, about 4,000 mostly white commercial farmers own almost half Namibia's arable land. Since independence in 1990, the government has purchased 118 farms for US $105 million and resettled 37,100 individuals. However, tension has increased recently over the government's moves to ramp up its willing-seller willing-buyer reform programme in response to criticism that it had not translated into more blacks owning commercial agricultural land. In a speech to the nation a week ago, President Sam Nujoma pointed out that "the option of land expropriation by government is not new" - legislation provided for the state to expropriate land in the public interest, subject to the payment of just compensation. NAU president Jan de Wet told IRIN on Wednesday that the letters sent to farmers were "an invitation to come and discuss the situation as to whether they are prepared to offer their farms [for purchase by the state]". "We must put the minds of farmers and the international community at ease. The letters to farmers are an invitation, and not a notice served on them that if they don't offer [to sell their farms] then their land will be expropriated [without compensation]," De Wet stressed. Minister of Lands Hifikepunye Pohamba told IRIN that farmers who were asked to sell their land were not without recourse and had the right to appeal to a court if they were dissatisfied with the compensation offered. De Wet said 19 farmers had so far received letters from the government, of which nine were Namibians and members of the NAU, while the others included a South African and several Germans. A number of criteria need to be agreed between government and organised agriculture regarding the expropriation of land in the public interest, as provided for by the Commercial Land Reform Act and the constitution. "We have requested that we submit proposals to the minister [of lands] regarding how we interpret 'just compensation' and what is 'public interest'. These criteria must be agreed, and must be transparent," De Wet noted. It was still too early "to say what the outcome will be, but we must stress that government is prepared to negotiate". The farms selected for purchase by the government were "not [all] the same - there are problems with water on some etc ... and they are busy making assessments now, regarding the suitability of these farms for resettlement [of landless blacks]. These are some of the issues to be discussed with government", De Wet explained. NAU intended to protect its members "by ensuring just compensation is paid - not only market value". Just compensation should include factors such as the future income from the farm and inconvenience to the seller. Discussions with the government would focus on "the need to get agreement on criteria and how just compensation is going to be determined. The main issue is that the minister has agreed that we should submit a document and that we can discuss it", said De Wet. The NAU's approach would continue to be one of negotiation with government, to "prevent any legal actions" that could inflame the situation. "Neither the government nor ourselves want to create instability. I've asked my farmers to keep calm ... I'm positive and optimistic that we will come to terms," De Wet confirmed. "My conversations with ministers and officials is definitely that they want to address this issue in a responsible manner."