EDITORIAL
Namibia is one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Since independence in 1990, all four administrations that led the country have not found a lasting solution to deal with the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor.
It is a sorry state of affairs that a country of 3 million with vast resources still carries this tag of inequality and has not found a solution or closure to this painful statistic.
This makes Namibia look like a country that is at loggerheads with itself.
Of course, a historical uneven distribution of resources including land is blamed for this situation. But for how long will history be to blame for contemporary scarcity?
35 years is quite a long time to sing the same song.
The southern African country is blessed with abundant natural resources including the ever shining diamonds of the kalahari which are the world’s wonder.
The country also boasts of vast tracts of arable land especially in the north eastern parts of the country.
The southern part of the country thrives with potential in animal husbandry.
The country has all the minerals and just like in the words of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibians are too few to be poor. All these resources make Namibia’s land pregnant with potential for its inhabitants.
The President’s views are pretty close to the notion of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who says “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.”
We need to learn from our past and craft a future that is better for generations.
One such way of redressing the inequality in Namibia is a swift, fair and lasting land redistribution exercise.
The current willing-seller willing buyer does not seem to be solving the challenges in time.
With the ongoing debate on the Land Bill in Parliament, one has the feeling that all hope is not lost.
The Bill provides Namibia with the best opportunity to close the gap between the haves and have nots.
Land is more than just a place to sleep.
It represents wealth, emancipation, control of the means of production and indeed has the ability to change the lives of the poor to be better.
It represents cultural beliefs, heritage and a sense of belonging.
It is imperative that the law makers use this one opportunity presented by the Bill to close all the loopholes.
They must cover every blade of grass that has been a contentious issue on the distribution of these important resources.
The law makers should answer the issues of ancestral land, communal land, commercial land at once and craft a law that will eventually speak of a changed Namibia. One where the means of production are not in the hands of 10% of the total population.
If the country’s land issue is dealt with, it will represent a major step towards addressing indirect issues to do with hunger, and nutrition.
One can surely not be hungry while sitting on the portion of land.
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