WINDHOEK, Dec. 12– Namibia will expedite the relocation of repatriated citizens to permanent farming units as part of efforts to boost rural livelihoods and strengthen self-reliance, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani said Thursday.
Zaamwani made the remarks during a visit to the Gam Reception Area, a temporary resettlement site created by the government to receive Namibians returning from Botswana.
The facility, located in the Otjozondjupa Region, provides accommodation and other support while returnees wait for allocation of permanent farming plots.
She said the government has already invested over 115 million Namibian dollars (about 6.8 million U.S. dollars) in the initiative, including the establishment of temporary accommodation, the construction of a multipurpose kraal, modern water infrastructure and the acquisition of six farms subdivided into units for livestock owners.
According to Zaamwani, all families received by the government on Sept. 20, along with those who arrived afterward, must prepare for relocation by the end of January 2026 to receive their designated farming plots.
She said the government recognizes the need for additional infrastructure, including roads, clinics, schools, telecommunications facilities and housing, and will work with regional authorities and other ministries to ensure these requirements are incorporated into future development budgets.
The resettlement initiative forms part of Namibia‘s broader program to support citizens of Namibian descent who had been living in Botswana and have opted to re-establish their livelihoods in their country of origin. (Namibia Daily News/ Xinhua)
