The government has transferred two farms valued at N$33.8 million to the /Khomanin Traditional Authority for communal use.
The farms, remainder of the Farm Groot Korasieplaats and portion 1 of the Farm Groot Korasieplaats, span a combined 8,132.95 hectares.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein said the land will now be administered under the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002, marking a turning point for the region, which previously had no communal land within its boundaries.
“The farms I have just mentioned were acquired at a cost of N$33,859,099.00 including transfer costs. After the acquisition, the government of the Republic of Namibia through Cabinet decided to convert the said farmland to be communal land for the /Khomanin Traditional Authority,†he said.
He further explained that the handover is part of Namibia’s broader efforts to address land inequalities rooted in colonial-era dispossession.
The Khomas Region, historically without communal land, now has a space where the /Khomanin community can practise their customs, traditions and sustainable agricultural activities.
Schlettwein highlighted that the land’s management and allocation will be overseen by the /Khomanin Traditional Authority, in collaboration with the Khomas Communal Land Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.
He emphasised the importance of adhering to the Communal Land Reform Act to ensure proper allocation of land rights, reduce conflicts and promote sustainable land use.
“To ensure a coordinated land allocation, people will be required to apply for land rights, as per the provision of the Communal Land Reform Act, as amended, and thereafter, land rights certificates will be given once all the due processes are completed. We are encouraging a secure tenure system because we believe that through the secure tenure, there will be social stability and minimum land-related conflicts,†he said.
The initiative also aligns with resolutions from the 2nd National Land Conference in 2018, which called for expanding communal land areas and creating new ones to address the plight of landless communities.
The government plans to support the new communal land with mentorship programmes, including agricultural extension services, to enhance productivity.
