Call for Land Bill input questioned

Land activists and specialists have accused government of not properly consulting stakeholders on the proposed draft Land Bill draft and that the time given for input is unreasonable.

An advertisement flighted by the land reform ministry last week called for input on the proposed draft by the deadline of 16 January 2017.

Land reform minister Utoni Nujoma wants to reintroduce the draft in February 2017 during the fourth session of the sixth parliament to allow for more time to deliberate it.

The announcement did not, however, sit well with land activists, specialists and farmers as they say the call for input at this time of the year is unreasonable, a miscarriage of proper procedure and should be withdrawn.

Nujoma on Wednesday told The Namibian that he does not see the time or time frame given as unreasonable since the ministry has been consulting on the issue since 2006.