'Be careful' urge churches
2004-07-28 22:56
Windhoek - Namibian church leaders have called on the government on Wednesday to be cautious as it moves toward the first expropriations under its land reform programme.
A 14-strong delegation from the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) led by Anglican Bishop Shihala Hamupembe made the appeal after meeting with Prime Minister Theo Ben Burirab.
"The CCN is sensitive that the implementation of expropriation will necessarily cause a wide range of different reactions and emotions," said the organisation's general secretary Nangula Kathindi.
"The CCN urges the government to ensure that the discomfort to those unfavourably affected is as minimal as possible," he said.
The church leader added that the land issue must be addressed in such a manner as to "ensure the long-lasting reconciliation in Namibia."
Gurirab's government sent out letters in May and June to about 15 white farmers asking them to make an offer to sell their properties to government.
The letters marked the first time that the government in Namibia had moved to expropriate farmers under its program to redress imbalances stemming from the predominance of about 3,800 white farmers who own most of the arable land.
The government set a deadline of June 30 for the farmers to respond but there has not been any response.
"We handed in the price we want in writing to the ministry ... but we have heard nothing since", said Karlheinz Wiese, whose wife Hilde owns Ongombo-West, a farm about 45km east of Windhoek.
Wiese said that two officials from the lands ministry turned up at the farm to assess its value but there had been nothing since.