MPs in the National Assembly have called for fair and equitable distribution of land and reform of resettlement schemes to make it more attractive to the youth.

They were contributing to the motion on the appointment of the members to the Land Reform Advisory Commission.

Leader of PDM, McHenry Venaani, argued, "To give a farm to someone for 99 years even if you are not productive or not working is no longer working. We must look at schemes, a new invention where we say those that are performing well can be able to buy this land so that at least we can accrue money from the resettlement process."

IPC MP Alosius Kangulu emphasised, "Land reform is not simply an administrative matter. It is a multi-generational, social and economic issue that requires diverse perspectives and technical experts."

AR Leader Professor Job Amupanda observed, "If land lacks the necessary intellectual orientation to understand what is going on, we will not be able to achieve anything."

IPC MP John-Louw Mouton pointed out, "Providing land alone is not enough. We need to capacity and train the people we resettle. But most importantly, we need to provide them with the market to offset their goods."

IPC MP Ferdinand Hengombe maintained: "The Commission, like every public institution, exercises public power and must operate consistently with constitutional principles, including the rule of law, equality before the law, fairness and the [rational] administration."

Dr. Tobie Aupindi of the Swapo Party insisted, "The issue here is that we need a commission that is full-time on the job, not having any other responsibility, that will then redesign and redefine the settlement programme and the land reform programme in itself."

Swapo Party MP Alpheus !Naruseb reiterated, "The incoming Commission must recognise that its responsibility goes beyond advising on individual land transactions. Land reform remains one of the most important unfinished developmental questions facing Namibia."

Nico Somaeb, a UDF leader, lamented, "A person already having his ancestral land is again obeying the settlement farms. And these farms are used as case farms, as handing farms. And those people that have lived at these farms for years are [sent] back to towns."

PDM MP Inna Hengari suggested, "We need to find an element and build some sort of mechanism that would allow for the Advisory Commission to be able to give proper advice and insight on spending."

Ephraim Nekongo, a Swapo Party MP, expressed, "Land is more than an economic resource. It is connected to our identity, to our culture, to our livelihood and to collective dignity."

Bishop Festus Thomas, Leader of the Body of Christ Party, urged, "We call upon the Commissioner to execute each mandate without fear or favour, to be transparent, consultative and sensitive to the plight of the landless."

Dr. Peya Mushelenga of the Swapo Party concluded, "We should look to vulnerable groups that have been excluded from economic activities, particularly women and youth."