WINDHOEK – According to the Christian Democratic Party (CDP), government has failed to address the land issue, and the willing buyer, willing seller is “a very stupid” concept, and the reason why many Namibians do not have land today. The party’s president, Gothard Kandume, in an interview with New Era, said CDP would, if elected to parliament, scrap the willing buyer willing seller concept and adopt a more radical stance on land acquisition.
“That concept is a very stupid one, government needs to do more to get our land back and distribute among Namibians. It is not fair that one person can have four farms while you have thousands crying for land,” Kandume said. He said Namibians would in the end be left with no choice but to forcefully grab land from those who are not willing to sell off portions of their farms to government.
The Usakos-based party would make its poll debut in the National Assembly election during the November 28 polls. The party will, however, not take part in the Presidential election.
“Our people will eventually become tired of waiting and then we have to do it the Zimbabwe way. Therefore, if we [are] elected into power we will scrap that concept and find better ways to give our people land. Our people are frustrated because they have waited too long to get land and there is still no sign that things will improve,” he said.
He also accused government of allegedly failing to provide enough jobs for Namibians.
“TIPEEG was there but it failed to create the 104 000 jobs as promised but the money was used up. The president must tell us how this money was spent,” said Kandume.
Government earlier this year announced that the N$14.5 billion Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (TIPEEG) launched during the 2011/12 financial year has created an estimated 83 315 jobs, 15 829 of which are permanent and 67 485 temporary, over the last three years.
“For as long as we fail to provide land and jobs to our people, we will be failing those who sacrificed their lives in order to liberate the country,” Kandume said.