Shockwaves were sent through the Namibian farming community when the government announced its intention to expropriate farms in the "public interest." The clumsy and diffuse way, in which this made revealed the bad strategy pursued, causing intensive news coverage also in Germany and the USA. An obvious and embarrassing leak of a high-level government decision which 9 farms are to be disowned first, found its way to SWAPO’s own newspaper, where 8 of the farms were listed.

However, the over-eager publishing of the farm names by the ruling party’s mouthpiece was perhaps a blessing in disguise, as the land ministry now denied that the list was correct. The permanent secretary told this reporter the list was wrong and Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba said he had "not comment" on the farm names. Even if the 8 farms published were originally targeted, the government now finds itself in a tight spot, as the retaliatory measure would have been too obvious. As DTA chairman Johan de Waal pointed out to PLUS, Article 22 of the Constitution protected fundamental rights including the right to property. If laws limit the fundamental rights, they may only be applied in a general way and not be aimed at a particular individual, the Constitution says. "Any court of law will throw out the expropriation, if it is targeted against an individual, should a farmer seek redress in a court of law, to which he is entitled," de Waal said.

The resettlement of 240 000 formerly disadvantaged landless applicants would require 9 million hectares and over 1 billion Namibia dollars, the permanent secretary in the ministry of lands, Frans Tsheehama told reporters on Wednesday.

Minister Pohamba explained the envisaged acceleration of the land reform by means of expropriation in the public interest should be completed within 5 years. "We target absentee landlords, those farmers who have excess of land, like five farms owned by one person and if we see the land is good (for farming), then we go for expropriation," Pohamba replied to questions from reporters. "We will have a list ready of the farms targeted within 4 weeks. Farms of black farmers can also be expropriated, even of Pohamba," he said. He further claimed, "the majority of white farms are unproductive."

On Tuesday, Pohamba said in Parliament, the necessary funds needed for appropriation "were in place." However, the national budget has been above the envisaged three percent deficit target in the past few years, with major development projects stalled, due to financial constraints. The new budget is expected to be tabled this month. secretary in the ministry of lands, Frans Tsheehama told reporters on Wednesday.

Minister Pohamba explained the envisaged acceleration of the land reform by means of expropriation in the public interest should be completed within 5 years. "We target absentee landlords, those farmers who have excess of land, like five farms owned by one person and if we see the land is good (for farming), then we go for expropriation," Pohamba replied to questions from reporters. "We will have a list ready of the farms targeted within 4 weeks. Farms of black farmers can also be expropriated, even of Pohamba," he said. He further claimed, "the majority of white farms are unproductive."

On Tuesday, Pohamba said in Parliament, the necessary funds needed for appropriation "were in place." However, the national budget has been above the envisaged three percent deficit target in the past few years, with major development projects stalled, due to financial constraints. The new budget is expected to be tabled this month.