Land consultative meeting kicks off in Khomas

WINDHOEK, 20 JUL  – The expropriation of land and its return to the rightful owners without compensation was the general sentiment expressed by Khomas residents who attended the regional land consultation meeting here on Thursday.
The two-day meeting, which ends on Friday, forms part of the public consultations in the lead-up to the second national land conference slated for October this year.
The majority of the people who attended the meeting held in the Kovambo Nujoma Hall at the Khomas Regional Office called for the expropriation of land without compensation.
The call was spearheaded by Katutura Central Constituency Councillor Ambrosius Kandjii, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the masses.
“That is the feeling on the ground. It’s not Kandjii saying that. The people want land to be expropriated without compensation,” he said.
The discussion point forms part of the 24 revisited resolutions of the 1991 land conference.
“We needed to look at the 1991 conference and see where we have gone wrong and right as a country going into the second land conference,” was the response of Khomas Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua, when asked about the value of the consultative meetings.
Windhoek Mayor Muesee Kazapua, who also attended the meeting, echoed Kandjii’s sentiments.
“We as Khomas will go to the land conference with the position that land must be expropriated without compensation,” announced Kazapua, shortly before the meeting adjourned for the lunch break.
Land expropriation without compensation refers to land that is taken by the State as the custodian without paying for its acquisition.
Other concerns raised during the meeting include suggestions that the two days were insufficient to deliberate on a “sensitive and emotive” issue such as land.
“Two days are insufficient for a sensitive issue of this magnitude. Why are we really here? Where did we go wrong? Where are the experts on the land issue? What are they proposing? Who was resettled? Where is that list?” were some of the questions raised by unionist, Olsen Kahiriri.
The consultative meetings are held throughout the country.
(NAMPA)