Resettlement involves more than just land distribution; it also involves securing tenure rights, planning land use, and addressing infrastructure and farm rehabilitation.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, expressed these sentiments in his ministerial statement on the Revised National Resettlement Policy of 2023–2033.
The Revised Resettlement Policy reflects the government's dedicated approach to tackling challenges regarding land redistribution in a coordinated, inclusive, and transparent manner.
The Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Minister, Carl Schlettwein, noted that his ministry has not been able to attain a balance in terms of equity in land distribution and bring the acquired land to full agricultural productivity and potential.
He highlighted that the revised National Resettlement Policy, spanning 2023 to 2033, presents a blueprint through which the government, aided by all key stakeholders and citizens, can address the issues of efficiency, equity, transparency, tenure security, capacity building, and agricultural production as fundamental elements of a progressive and inclusive National Resettlement Policy.
The objective of the revised policy is also to eliminate poverty by ensuring that the land acquired is equitably allocated and sustainably utilised for improved livelihoods.
The policy targets to resettle previously disadvantaged Namibians who do not own agricultural land or adequate agricultural land and those Namibians who have been socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged by past discriminatory laws and practices.
This, Schlettewein said, will be achieved under the reviewed policy by grouping the target beneficiaries into three main groups: commercial farmers on leased land in commercial or communal areas; communal farmers; and non-farming individuals.
"In order to cover all kinds of landlessness, displacement, and destitution of people in the country, this policy establishes three resettlement models, namely: a) the High Economic Value Model b) Moderate Economic Value Model and c) Low Economic Value Model , Furthermore, this policy makes provision for the option for freehold rights to be granted to successful beneficiaries upon meeting the conditions of their respective lease agreements. It introduces tailored pre- and post-settlement support in the form of support services and packages and starting capital to be offered to resettled beneficiaries."
The Cabinet approved the revised National Resettlement Policy 2023–2033 in May 2023.
"The Ministry is currently reviewing the resettlement criteria to be in line with the approved resettlement models in the revised policy. We therefore intend to request the Minister of Information and Communication Technology to support the uploading of the revised National Resettlement Policy on the Ministerial Website for public consumption."
The Ministry intends to implement the revised National Resettlement Policy as of April 2024.