Justicia Shipena
The land bill was reintroduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday by minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Management Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi.
She said the legislation aims to create a coherent legal framework to drive equitable land reform in Namibia.
Zaamwani-Kamwi told lawmakers that the land question remains one of the most complex and emotive issues in the country’s history.
“The land reform process does not view access to land merely as a commodity. It is a foundation of dignity, identity, and economic freedom,” she said.
The bill was first tabled in March 2025 by former minister Calle Schlettwein but was not debated.
Zaamwani-Kamwi said its return carries renewed weight as parliament now includes broader representation, including participants from the second National Land Conference, which was hosted in 2018.
She explained that the bill consolidates previous legislation to make land reform more effective.
Among the new measures, it establishes a centralised land tribunal to resolve disputes in both communal and commercial areas.
It also creates a communal land development fund while retaining the land acquisition and development fund for resettlement and commercial agricultural land.
The bill prohibits the acquisition of communal and commercial land by foreign nationals.
It sets up land committees to issue consent letters in areas where traditional authorities are not recognised or where disputes exist.
It also introduces stricter measures against non-compliance and pollution.
Zaamwani-Kamwi noted that challenges remain in the land reform process, especially the shortage of suitable land and the high costs of acquisition.
“This bill reaffirms our commitment to a peaceful land reform, one that enhances access to land and accelerates allocation for youth, women, corridor dwellers, and generational farm workers,” she said.
She said the government will not avoid land expropriation in the national interest, pointing out that the constitution allows such action.
Zaamwani-Kamwi called on lawmakers to deliberate in the spirit of nation-building.
“There is an urgent need for inclusive efforts across all sectors to forge equitable and sustainable solutions,” she said.
