Britain backs land reform
2004-09-30 10:39
Windhoek - Britain underscored Namibia's commitment to carry out land reform in accordance with the law on Wednesday as it made a £100 000 donation to the programme.
Land reform is an emotive issue in southern Africa following the expropriation four years ago of thousands of white farmers in Zimbabwe whose properties were redistributed to landless blacks.
"My government has noted the Namibian government's clear and regular statements that land reform in Namibia will be carried out according to the country's laws and in accordance with the terms of her constitution," British High Commissioner Alasdair MacDermott said at a ceremony to present the aid.
"My government is also aware of the urgency of moving forward on this issue," MacDermott added.
Expensive programme
The funds will be used to help a technical team from the lands ministry collect data that will be used to draft a strategic plan for Namibian land reform by next month.
Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba, the leading presidential candidate in elections on November, expressed gratitude, saying that the "government faces an acute shortage of funds to implement the land reform program in accordance with our laws."
He said the implementation of land reform in Namibia was "quite expensive and challenging."
Pohamba sent out letters in May and June to about 15 white farmers asking them to make an offer to sell their properties to the government.
The letters marked the first time the government in Namibia led by the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party has moved to expropriate farmers under its land reform programme, but no actual expropriations have happened yet.
Namibia's 3 800 white farmers own most of the arable land, an imbalance that the government has vowed to redress.