Small-scale farmers who, in the future, would want to be resettled could be required to have resource ownership or access capital to the value of at least N$200,000 per year.

They must, however, relinquish any agricultural land rights they may hold elsewhere in the country.

The information is contained in the draft resettlement criteria, which were presented to stakeholders in the |Khomas Region for revision.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has prepared draft resettlement criteria, comprising three models under which the government will resettle the landless.

These are the High Economic Value Model, the Moderate Economic Value Model, and the Low Economic Value Model.

All three models are designed to enhance the welfare of the people through improved productivity and to enable farmers to be self-reliant.

The draft policy also aims to correct colonial wrongs and allow all Namibians to achieve social and economic equity.

During the nbc News team's visit to the consultative venue, only six of the 10 |Khomas Constituency Councillors were in attendance.

Among those approached to share their views on the draft document, only Windhoek Rural Constituency Councillor Piet Adams confirmed having read the document, which was given to them two weeks in advance.

"As someone who is confronted on a daily basis about issues that are really confronting our people on the lowest level, obviously, what I do not see is how best they can be incorporated so that they can also feel like Namibians. You will find generational farm workers; you will find people that are basically ending up in corridors because they would work for 20 or 30 years at a commercial farm, and once they enter retirement age, they will be thrown out."

For one to be considered under the High Economic Value Model, such a person must, among others, be a commercial farmer, originate from a previously disadvantaged community, and have capital to the value of N$500,000 or more.

The capital requirement for the Moderate Economic Value Model is set between N$500,000 and N$1 million.

Another factor that will get you a high consideration rating is age, which is favourable to those between 18 and 35 years, while those above 36 will earn lower ratings on the ministry's scorecard.

Applicants with over 15 years of experience in farming will also enjoy the ministry’s consideration.

The draft document reveals that marginalised communities are high on the ministry's list for consideration, including the San, Nama, Ovaherero, and Damara communities, among others.

The |Khomas Governor, Laura Mclaud-Katjirua, says consultations that led to this draft document emanated from the 176 resolutions taken at the second Land Conference in 2018.

"In some communities, we witness overcrowding of livestock and land degradation; hence, there is a need to relieve pressure from such communities, and to avoid land degradation, there is a collective belief that if the above aspect improves in a policy, the land reform programme will deliver the desired result."