Advocating for Land Rights: The /Khomanins Community Takes a Stand

Advocating for Land Rights: The /Khomanins Community Takes a Stand

Windhoek, Namibia — November 4, 2024: In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and resilience, the /Khomanins Landless Association and the Namibia Ancestral Land Foundation have submitted a final petition to the Namibian government, calling for urgent action to address systemic land dispossession and the ongoing plight of landless communities in Namibia. This petition comes in the wake of a mass demonstration aimed at highlighting the injustices faced by indigenous peoples, […]

November 5, 2024 9

Africa

Zimbabwe to compensate white farmers

The government of Zimbabwe will start paying 3.5 billion USD in compensation to farmers who lost land under former President Robert Mugabe's administration. Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce's Christopher Mugaga told Newzroom Afrika that there have been different views on handling this issue. Around 4,000 white farmers lost their homes and large areas of land when Zimbabwe's former president, Robert Mugabe, initiated a controversial and often violent land redistribution program […]

October 17, 2024 64

Uncategorized

Amupanda leads AR in bid for Presidential election

The Affirmative Repositioning has officially put forward its leader, Job Amupanda, as its presidential candidate for the November general election. This submission was made to the Electoral Commission of Namibia this morning. To be registered as a presidential candidate, one must be part of a registered political party (unless running as an independent), be a registered voter, and pay a fee of N$20,000. Amupanda, born 28 August 1987 in Omaalala, […]

October 3, 2024 2

Namibia

Agriculture Minister discusses aquifer pollution risks

The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein is visiting the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa Regions to engage with regional leaders, Communal Land Boards, Resettlement Committees, and farmers. During a community meeting in Leonardville, the Minister discussed the Stampriet Aquifer, where he explained how underground mining can pollute water sources.

August 15, 2024 28

Africa

South Africa’s new agricultural leadership should focus on getting things done, not designing new policies

By Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University South Africa’s primary agriculture sector accounts for nearly 3% of GDP and about 8% when considering the value of agro-processing. But it can contribute even more to economic growth that delivers benefits fairly across society and creates jobs. This can’t happen, however, if new policies and plans keep getting introduced. Fortunately, the views of the new agricultural minister, John Steenhuisen, may […]

July 3, 2024 29

Environment

Agriculture Ministry holds high-level talks on Stampriet aquifer mining

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform today held a high-level meeting in Stampriet regarding Uranium Mining in the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer system. Here is Agriculture Minister, Calle Schlettwein.

June 17, 2024 64

Entertainment

This is how President Ramaphosa got to the 25% figure of progress in land reform in South Africa

By Johann Kirsten, Stellenbosch University and Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University Nearly three decades into democracy, land reform remains central to South Africa’s transformation policies and agricultural policy. We have over the years pointed out that the progress on land reform has been incorrectly reported. It’s been consistently understated. We have argued that, if the statistics are treated carefully, the progress has been much better than politicians […]

March 22, 2024 23

Environment

In Brazil’s soy belt, community seed banks offer hope for the Amazon

By Ana Ionova Not too long ago, the plot of land that Maria Ivonete de Souza inherited was barren, the soil hardened by years of cattle ranching. When the family had arrived to the Amazon from southern Brazil four decades earlier, her father had swiftly cleared the dense rainforest to make way for pasture. “He razed it all by hand, with a saw and an ax,” Souza […]

February 20, 2024 11

South Africa

South Africa’s Land Restitution Program Evaluation Unveiled

South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, is set to present the findings of the land restitution evaluation study on financial compensation paid to beneficiaries today. This evaluation is a crucial component of the government's Land Restitution Programme. Reggie Ngcobo, the department's spokesperson, highlights that the insights derived from this evaluation will play a key role in shaping policy formulation and programmatic interventions moving forward.

February 19, 2024 9