The existing land resettlement policy had severe deficiencies and loopholes, the members of regional resettlement committees noted. In a 2-day workshop organised by the ministry of lands and resettlement this week outside Windhoek governors from the 8 regions which have commercial farms said, sub-leasing of land units allocated to beneficiaries, illegal invasion of farms lying idle after they were bought by government, destruction and theft of farm machinery and equipment as well as disappearance of fences were very common. On the other hand, lack of control to check if only resettled people were living on the farm units, led to overcrowding by other people as well as to overgrazing by livestock. Regional resettlement committees also did not have any power to instruct illegal people to get off the land, according to Kunene governor Dudu Murorua. It was further not clear if the resettlement committees were a legal arm of government, i.e. of the regional councils or the lands ministry. Committee members often could not attend meetings, because they did not have a transport allowance. In addition, many resettled people were simply not productive and thus not contributing to the economy through farming. This should change, the governors urged, not anybody should be resettled, but rather those who had some agricultural training and knowledge about farming. Minister Ekandjo, who in a transparent move allowed journalists to remain present throughout the conference, said government only bought 20% of all farms offered, 80% received waiver certificates. He also informed that amendment proposals to the existing Agricultural (Commercial) Land Act would come soon.

Meanwhile Cabinet this week said I accepted the report of the special task team compiled at the end of 2004. The report has not yet been made public.

On Thursday, 18 May the Ambassador of the Commission of the European Union to Namibia, Antonius Brüser signed an agreement with the National Planning Commission to fund the country’s road sector. A first payment of N$ 24 million as budget support for the rural roads sector was granted. The director general of the NPC, Helmut Angula received the funds on behalf of the Namibian government. In April 2005, the NPC signed a financing agreement with the EU for € 53 million – about N$ 400 million - to implement a rural poverty reduction programme until 2009. This programme includes institutional support to the government and selected non-state actors (€ 8.5 million), capacity building for the land reform (€ 3.5 million), rural access roads (€ 12 million), budget support for rural water supply (€ 11.0 million) and decentralized demand driven actions (€15 million).

The Namibia Economic Society is inviting the public to share and exchange views on the water as a sustainable resource during a breakfast meeting in Windhoek next week Wednesday on 24 May at the NamPower convention centre. Invited panellists are Dr Vaino Shivute, CEO of NamWater, Swakopmund mayor Rosina //Hoabes, who is also president of ALAN (Association of Local Authorities in Namibia) and Mr Greenford Chitaku Mucheleng’ana, head of research and development coordination of the Water & Sanitation Association of Zambia. The meeting starts at 7h30 and ends at 10h00. Due to limited space available, attendants must confirm their participation in advance with Ms Monica Shikwambi at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung at tel 061-237438/223767 or via e-mail:sylvia@fesnam.org.na.