The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has announced the appointment of new members to the Land Reform Advisory Commission (LRAC).

The newly appointed commissioners are Petrina Mpahleni, Alexandria Angala, Thomas Uuyuni, Adolf Muremi, Kay-Dieter Rumpf, and Nguvitjita Kapere. Reappointed commissioners are Petrus Canisius Nangolo, Charles Uugwanga, Frans Kamati, and Paulus Hausiku, while Alfred Sikopo will serve as the new acting chairperson.

The new commissioners will serve a four-year term from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2029.

While reaffirming the government’s commitment to accelerating Namibia’s land reform programme, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Ruth Masake, described land redistribution as central to addressing historical injustices and advancing national development.

Masake has described land reform as one of Namibia’s important national priorities and said the government continues to drive the process through policies and legislation, including the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act of 1995 and the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).

“The Land Reform Advisory Commission serves as an important advisory mechanism between government policy objectives, land acquisition and redistribution processes, as well as broader socio-economic development priorities.”

Acting Executive Director and incoming LRAC Chairperson Alfred Sikopo described land reform as one of Namibia’s most important national priorities, noting that the issue has remained central since independence.

Sikopo said the government prioritised land reform through the first National Land Conference held in 1991 and again during the second National Land Conference in 2018, aimed at addressing historical land imbalances inherited before independence.