The ministry of land and resettlement has so far resettled 5,890 families in the country, its Minister Jerry Ekandjo revealed. He opened a one-day conference on resettlement issues for ministerial officials and resettlement committees in Windhoek on Thursday. Minister Ekandjo said 1,538 families were resettled on freehold land and 4352 families in communal areas.

No figures of individuals that were resettled were given.

The biggest challenge had been long periods taken to acquire land and to allocate such land to beneficiaries. "Some of the delays can be directly ascribed to the legislation governing resettlement, whilst others are of an administrative nature", Ekandjo admitted. Adjustments were necessary, he added, "which might require changes to our legislation". Other changes to administration would be necessary as well as "proper planning and efficient implementation".

Post-resettlement support to newly resettled beneficiaries was another point on the agenda for the closed-door meeting. "Beneficiaries deserve the same support from national programmes just like any other citizens in towns and settlements", Ekandjo pointed out, which required support at national and regional levels.

"We should also ensure that we have adequate response mechanisms to attend to the needs of the resettled farmers – close liaison with line ministries, other stakeholders and the beneficiaries", he urged.

Meanwhile the expropriation process of the Ongombo-West farm east of Windhoek seems to enter its final phase. Two weeks ago Minster Ekandjo told a parliamentary committee, he hoped for a breakthrough this month and that his ministry offered to pay Mrs Hilde Renate Wiese N$ 3,7 million for the farm. According to independent estate agents specialising in farm sales, the farm is worth around N$9 million.

As the French news agency AFP reported this week, Mrs Wiese had now accepted the government’s price offer, although "reluctantly". Mrs Wiese indicated she wanted to get the matter behind her, which is dragging on for 15 months.