The land plight of the |Khomanin people is finally heard.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, handed over communal land to the |Khomanin Traditional Authority, which said its people have been landless for years.

Since independence, the /Khomanin people have been pleading for land and a place to call home.

When the government finally responded positively with the handover of two farms about 140 kilometers east of Windhoek, it was a joyous occasion—the one that filled the air.

The farms Remainder of Groot Korasieplaats and Portion One of the farm Groot Korasieplaats have a combined size of more than eight thousand hectares.

“The late President Geingob directed Cabinet, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, to ensure that communal land is created in the Khomas region, particularly for allocation to the /Khomanin Traditional community. Today we are celebrating the dream of all our former Presidents who laid the foundation for the creation of this communal land. I am happy to announce to the Namibian nation that finally, communal land is created in the Khomas region, after the government acquired commercial farmland in the Khomas Region.”

The farms that were converted to communal land to make them habitable were acquired at a cost of more than 33 million dollars.

The |Khomanin Traditional Authority will administer primary land allocation, whereas the |Khomas Communal Land Board will be responsible for the issuance of land rights.

“It is imperative to underline that apparently communal lands in Namibia are known to be mismanaged in terms of overgrazing, overutilization of resources, poaching and illegal hunting, vandalism of infrastructure, etc. I call upon the Khomanin Traditional Authority to ensure that this land is productively and sustainably used to derive livelihoods. No hunting of game is allowed; no cutting down of trees is allowed. We need to remain within the carrying capacity of this communal land.”

Laura Mcleod-Katjirua Governor of |Khomas Region, had this to say:

“The hectares of land the /Khomanin Traditional Authority is going to receive today will enhance the livelihood of the /Khomanin community. This community will now have a place to call home. They will have a place to invite other Traditional Authorities to discuss issues of national concern and other traditional affairs.”

Receiving the farms on behalf of her people, Gaos Juliane Gawa!Nas expressed her gratitude to the government for finally responding to the plight of the Khomanin people.

Farmers in the corridors will be considered during the allocation that will take place early next year.

Currently, there are about 28 farmers in the corridors.

More land and expansion are still being negotiated for the /Khomanin people.