Members of Namibia's parliament have expressed concerns about the returns on a significant land investment, questioning whether the country is getting meaningful benefits from the millions of dollars spent acquiring commercial farmland. The concerns were raised during a debate on the appointment of four nominees to the Land Reform Advisory Commission (LRAC). MPs argued that land reform must be measured by what it delivers to beneficiaries, not just by the number of hectares purchased.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture's 2024/25 statistics, 41,291.5681 hectares were acquired through 11 farms at a total cost of N$115.09 million, exceeding the annual target of 26,387 hectares. However, MPs questioned whether these figures told the full story, asking what had happened to the land after acquisition and whether the investment had translated into tangible benefits for those it was intended to help.
Affirmative Repositioning MP Ester Sakaria-Haikola called for a system to track, evaluate, and enforce post-acquisition productivity and socioeconomic impact of redistributed land. She argued that the success of land reform could no longer be judged primarily by the amount of land acquired, but rather by whether farms were being used productively and whether beneficiaries were becoming economically independent.
Popular Democratic Movement MP Diederik Vries proposed that the commission adopt a three-year institutional performance plan, setting measurable targets, including the number of matters received and concluded, processing times, recommendations submitted, and outstanding cases. He argued that parliament should be able to assess the commission against clear annual targets, supported by regular reports on its work.
Independent Patriots for Change MP Nelson Kalangula stressed that acquiring land was only the beginning of the resettlement process, warning that beneficiaries needed support to make their farms productive and sustainable. He called for the advisory framework to monitor land utilization and guide the ministry on providing targeted credit facilities, agricultural extension services, and infrastructure support.
The four nominees proposed to serve on the Land Reform Advisory Commission for three years, from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029, are Cardini Roman, Jeaneth Kuhanga, Mona-Lisa McKay, and Ermelinda Tjimune. However, IPC MP Abednego Hishoono cautioned against treating the appointments as a routine parliamentary exercise, saying land reform was closely tied to Namibia's history, identity, livelihoods, and national reconciliation.
The debate highlighted the need for greater accountability, transparency, and evidence in the land reform process. MPs emphasized that land must be allocated according to the law, objective criteria, and the public interest, and that the government had a responsibility to address concerns through proper oversight and transparency.
Key points
- Namibian MPs are questioning the returns on a N$115 million land investment, calling for greater accountability and post-settlement support.
- The government has acquired 41,291.5681 hectares of land through 11 farms at a total cost of N$115.09 million, exceeding the annual target.
- MPs are calling for a system to track, evaluate, and enforce post-acquisition productivity and socioeconomic impact of redistributed land.
