Nine former Omaheke area corridor inhabitants are now proud homeowners after decades of living in limbo, owing to a historic land transfer by Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform.
For the recipients, many of whom are generational farm laborers who had lived their whole lives in informal settlements with no chance of obtaining land, the event, which took place in Windhoek on Tuesday, signified a dramatic change. With their futures looking more certain, with land ownership.
The land allocation comes after Farm Wiums Rus and Farm Fiesta were purchased by the government for N$28 million. With a combined total area of over 11,000 hectares, these farms provide the new owners with both a place to live and a means of subsistence.
Minister Zaamwani-Kamwi said during the transfer, “We urge all farm owners to exercise restraint from evictions and instead opt for dialogue to seek dignified and sustainable solutions.” She emphasized the value of understanding between farm owners and employees, stating that cooperation, not conflict, is the foundation of thriving agricultural communities.
She also reminded applicants for resettlement to be honest and transparent throughout the process. “We must all collectively uphold the integrity of this process to ensure its success and fairness,” she said. “To those of you who are fortunate to receive land allotments today, we implore you to make the most of this life-changing opportunity use the land productively and sustainably.”
For beneficiaries like Nikolaas Mootu from the Okorukambe constituency, the handover is the end of a long journey. “I’m so happy and convinced that since now a lady is running the country, some changes are becoming visible,” he said. “I’ve been trying for 30 years to get resettled. I am very happy that the government finally heard our cries.”
Minister Zaamwani-Kamwi also called on traditional leaders and regional officials to ensure transparency in identifying future beneficiaries. She reaffirmed that all resettlement processes will be thoroughly vetted to guard against corruption, favouritism, and tribalism. For the nine new landowners, the handover is more than paperwork it’s the beginning of new lives rooted in dignity, opportunity, and hope.
