Welcome to our Web Page

Ministry of Lands and Resettlement

Private Bag 13343 Windhoek Tel. +264-61-2852111 Fax. +264-61-228240

Brenden Simbwaye Building, Goethe Street

The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement was established in 1990 as the main actor in the planning and administration of land.  It was entrusted with the responsibility of rendering services to eradicate the vast disparities in respect of land distribution, social reintegration, and rehabilitation of people with disabilities and resettlement of disadvantaged Namibians.

In carrying out of its responsibilities, the ministry aims to serve its clients by applying its chosen values as follows:

Professionalism: to be seen by our stakeholders as living up to standards.

Integrity: to be seen by all our stakeholders to be consistent, truthful and trustworthy.

Empathy: to be able to relate to people, their feelings and their needs.

Commitment: to be able to fully give ourselves to what we have chosen to do.

Efficiency: to deliver the services and our promises swiftly and accurately.

The ministry carries out its responsibilities through the four directorates and fourteen divisions (including four regional offices) as follows

 The Directorate of Land Reform consists of two main divisions, namely, the Division of Land Boards, Tenure and Advice, and the Division of Land Use Planning and Allocation, and one unit, viz., the Valuation and Estate Management Unit. The main function of the directorate is to administer the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act No. 6 of 1995 and the Communal Land Reform Bill, which was recently passed by the National Assembly. The National Land Policy was also developed and is being implemented by the directorate. The objectives of the directorate are:

1.      To acquire land for resettlement and developmental purposes.

2.      To guide the formulation of rural land development plans to ensure optimum beneficial use of scarce and fragile natural resources.

3.      To prepare plans for specific land use options and to co-ordinate future land use planning in the country.

4.      To allocate communal land for farming and business purposes. 

5.      To determine land value and other government properties for various uses.

6.      To protect the inalienable right of every citizen to have access to land. 

7.      To collect and keep baseline data on natural resources.

 The ministry is responsible for the overall administration of state land, including communal areas. Currently, the traditional authorities are responsible for the allocation and cancellation of land rights for customary utilisation. They are also responsible for the allocation of land rights for business purposes in communal areas. For the smooth administration of communal land, the ministry has already set up plans to establish Regional Land Boards throughout the country. Once established, these statutory bodies will strengthen those institutions that are already involved in matters related to the administration of communal land. 

The division is responsible for the issuing of Permission to Occupy Certificates (PTOs) to successful applicants in communal areas. During the 1998/99 financial year, the division issued sixty PTOs for various uses in communal areas. The division also attends to land disputes and adjudicates conflict in communal areas.

The Division of Land Use Planning and Allocation is mainly responsible for developing land use plans for commercial and communal land. The division is also mandated to execute the following functions:

1.      Assessment and acquisition of land/farms for resettlement purposes.

2.      Collection of baseline data on biophysical and socio-economic environment with the aim of evaluating suitability of land for specific uses under certain levels of management.

3.      Demarcation of farms into farming units as stipulated in the Commercial (Agricultural) Land Reform Act, Act 6 of 1995.

4.      Assist and support decision-makers at local, regional and national levels, in all aspects of sustainable use of land as a natural resource for development.

5.      Testing of land utilisation against overall development objectives, policies, and appropriateness for implementation of land reform programs.

6.      Providing guidelines for the drafting of legislation on land tenure and land administration and land use planning.

 In accordance with the Cabinet decision to establish a centralised government unit on valuation and estate management, the ministry is in the process of establishing a unit for valuation and estate management in the Directorate of Land Reform. The main objectives of this unit would be:

1. Valuing commercial agricultural land/properties offered to the government for sale.

2. Providing professional advice on valuation to ministries, government agencies  parastatals.

3. Implementing land tax once enacted and developing and maintaining an asset register.

4. Valuation for stamp duty and transfer duty, and developing estate plan.

5. Valuation for disposal/lease of state properties, e.g., farms.

The Directorate of Survey and Mapping consists of three divisions, namely, the Division of Mapping and Geographical Information System, the Division of Cadastral and Geodetic Surveys and the Division of Planning, Marketing and Administration. The directorate is the national survey and mapping authority in Namibia providing professional services and advice to the government, parastatals, private companies and the general public on all matters related to surveying and mapping. Its role is defined under the Land Survey Act, No 33 of 1993. The objectives of the directorate are as follows:

1.      Examination and approval of cadastral survey records, diagrams and general plans.

2.      Digitising and revision of topographical maps.

3.      Creation of digital cadastral database.

4.      Acquisition of up to date aerial photography.

5.      Capacity building within the MLRR.

The Division of Cadastral and Geodetic Surveys plays an important supporting role in the implementation of land reform measures, such as, land acquisition for resettlement and providing security of tenure through registration of deeds. The division is also responsible for the examination and approval of all cadastral surveys and plans that are required to support the registration process of immovable properties. The division plays an active role in the process of township proclamation by co-ordinating all township surveys in collaboration with the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing. 

The Division of Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) is responsible for:

1.      Revision of maps, planning and supervision of aerial photography contracts.

2.      Digitisation and maintenance of digital databases.

3.      Formulation, development and co-ordination of national GIS policy.

4.      Provision of specialised services, such as, scanning and vectorising of maps and other graphic documents.

5.      Provision of professional advice on mapping, GIS and remote sensing.

 The Directorate of Resettlement and Rehabilitation consists of two divisions, namely, the Division of Resettlement, and the Division of Rehabilitation. The directorate is responsible for resettlement of landless and displaced Namibians to enable them to attain an acceptable level of social and economic development. It is also responsible for developing and maintaining the capacity for creating both awareness and economic means, within Namibia, for people with disabilities to become integrated into the mainstream of Namibian society. This enables them to afford and utilise all means of education, development and employment available to other Namibian citizens. 

The Division of Resettlement is primarily responsible for all resettlement activities in the ministry. This includes the provision of basic amenities and facilities to the landless and destitute Namibians. The ministry identified the following categories of beneficiaries of the resettlement programme:

1.      People who have neither land, nor income nor livestock.

2.      People who have neither land nor income, but have livestock.

3.      People who have no land but have income or are cattle owners, but need land to settle on with their families, or to graze their livestock.

The division is also responsible for implementing development projects with the aim of improving the economic and social status of the previously disadvantaged communities. During the past ten years of independence, projects, such as, Excelsior Rural Development Project, Westfallen, Bernafey, Skoonheid, Drimiopsis, Mangheti Dune, Bravo, Tsintsabis, Otjihao, Onandandja, Bagani, Omega and Chetto were established and fall under the jurisdiction of the Resettlement Division. Through the resettlement programme, some previously disadvantaged communities, such as, the San, the Ex-Plan Combatants and displaced farm workers were provided with housing and land for agricultural activities. Since the inception of the resettlement programme, the ministry has constructed and allocated 160 houses to some beneficiaries in the various regions of the country.

The ministry has already introduced a long-term lease agreement with the incumbent beneficiaries of the resettlement programme. This gives a new impetus to the resettlement programme in general and will raise revenue to secure the long-term sustainability of the programme. Lease agreement will encourage beneficiaries to increase the productivity of their respective plots and to add value to the resettlement programme. 

The main function of the Rehabilitation Division is to facilitate increased access to services by people with disabilities so as to enhance their integration into the larger community and improve their dignity and social well-being. The division is responsible for the implementation of the National Disability Policy through a community based rehabilitation programme. The implementation of this programme is divided into three main categories as follows:

1.      Disability Resource Center.

2.      Income Generating Activities.

3.      Human resources development and support to Disabled People’s Organisation.

During the past ten years, the division has established various projects for people with disabilities in various parts of the country. For example, the Hangatena Project in Omaheke Region, the Iileni Mwitaleleko in the Oshikoto Region, Morgenson Project in the Karas Region, Hainyeko Bakery in the Oshikoto Region, the Windhoek Disability Resource Centre, the Keetmanshoop Disability Resource Centre, and the Keetmanshoop Disability Resource Centre.

The Directorate of Deeds Registry has two offices, the Windhoek Deeds Office and the Rehoboth Deeds Office. This directorate serves as the national cadastral authority in the country. The deeds registry provides professional services and advice to line ministries, parastatals, local authorities, legal practitioners and the general public on all matters relating to the registration of immovable and movable properties. The functions of these deeds registries are currently outlined in the deeds registries Act, No. 47 of 1937 and the Registration of Deeds in Rehoboth Act, No. 93 of 1976. 

This is a service-oriented generalist division with broad administrative base. Its main objectives include providing personnel services, training and development services, financial services, and auxiliary and support services to all directorates, divisions and regional offices. This division controls all operational and development expenditures and gives financial advice to the ministry. Through this division the ministry ensures that the State Finance Act, the Public Staff Rules, Treasury Instructions, the Labour Act, the Public Service Act, Tender Board Regulations and other regulations are complied with.

The approved structure of the ministry makes provision for four regional deputy directors. Three of them were advertised and filled during 1998/99 financial year. These are the deputy directors for the Southern Region, the North-North-West Region, and the North-East Region. The fourth position of regional deputy director for the Central Region will be filled soon.

The creation of regional offices is in line with the government policy on decentralisation. These offices are still to be properly equipped to enable them to implement the strategies and business plans of the ministry.

The Division of Planning, Research and Projects Development is one of the newly- established divisions within the ministry. The major responsibilities of the division are:

1.      To set priorities for the ministry in the light of competing and highly demanding group and individual situations.

2.      Mapping out new vision for the ministry by linking research study results with planned development programme.

3.      Setting targets for the various directorates of the ministry and reviewing them.

4.      Monitoring and evaluating developmental projects and programmes undertaken by the ministry.

5.      Ensuring up-to-date and smooth linkages with all stakeholders that the ministry is expected to collaborate with at national, regional and local levels.

6.      Ensuring that annual reports and newsletter are produced and distributed to the wider community.

During the past ten years of its existence, the ministry has developed legislative instruments and policies to facilitate the acquisition, fair distribution and proper administration of land and other natural resources in Namibia.  The National Assembly adopted and passed the following regulations/policies and they are already in implementation:

1.      Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act, No.6, of 1995,

2.      National Policy on Disability

3.      National Land Policy, and

4.      Communal Land Bill (to be enacted soon).

The Communal Land Bill and the National Resettlement Policy are to be finalised soon. As part of the nation-wide decentralisation exercise, the ministry established four regional offices with the aim of empowering local authorities by transferring some of the responsibilities and decision-making to the local communities.

The ministry, in its endeavour to ensure equitable access and control of the country's natural resources, purchased seventy-nine farms totalling 438 395ha at a cost of N$52 451 355. Tables1 and 2 list some of the farms that were acquired by the ministry.  

Table 1: Farms purchased from 1990 to 1995

_____________________________________________________________________

Table 2: Farms purchased from 1995 to 1999:

Most of these farms have been developed and some are earmarked for resettlement and developmental purposes.  During the 1998/99 financial year, forty-seven business people were allocated with sites of different sizes in communal areas to set up businesses and were issued with permission to occupy certificates.   

 In its endeavour to develop communal areas and to uplift the living standards of inhabitants in those areas, the ministry plans to start a project aiming at assessing and developing communal areas by providing necessary infrastructure and other basic amenities. 

As a sign of its commitment to developing communal areas, the ministry has completed an Integrated Land Use Plan for the Kunene Region. The report is to be distributed to the regional councillors in Kunene and other stakeholders who have direct or indirect involvement in developing communal land. A preliminary assessment to carry our an integrated land use planning in the Caprivi Region was also carried out and the project is awaiting budget approval to proceed.

As one of its major responsibilities, the ministry has been committed in redressing past imbalances in land distribution by resettling landless, destitute, disadvantaged and other members of the Namibian society by providing them with the opportunity to become self-reliant and self-sufficient in food production.

Despite a lengthy dispute that occurred between the government and the illegal occupants who invaded government farms during 1998 in the Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Kunene regions, the ministry was able to resettle 115 families with 615 dependants in the Kunene and Hardap regions.  

During the dry season, the ministry was able to provide emergency grazing space to livestock farmers who were severely affected by the drought. This resulted in the suspension of the resettlement programme. However, the program of resettlement was officially resumed in August 1999 and will continue apace.

The ministry, through its resettlement programme, managed to build forty-nine houses: twelve in the Oshikoto Region, twelve at Skoonheid in the Gobabis area and twenty-five at Mangetti Dune in Otjozondjupa.  These are some of the success stories in the resettlement programme undertaken by the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation since Namibia’s independence.

The ministry has also committed itself to facilitating and increasing access to services and equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities by enhancing their dignity, well-being and empowerment through various projects and programmes. Training programmes in various skills were organised for individuals or groups of people with disabilities in tailoring, carpentry, gardening, brick and basket making. 

Table 3 shows the income generating projects for people with disabilities undertaken during the last ten years.

_____________________________________________________________________

Table 3: Income generating projects for people with disabilities, 1990-1999

The ministry also managed to access twenty-one children with disabilities to basic education, thirty-one adults with disabilities to vocational training and thirty-two to job placement.

The ministry, through its Directorate of Surveying and Mapping, is committed in its endeavour to collect, maintain, process and disseminate accurate and up to date geographical information and data in support of national and public demands. Geo-information and related data are delivered in the form of surveys, maps, plans, aerial photos and other services. During 1998, the directorate was engaged in revising maps for the Kavango Region and these maps are now available in print. Regional and constituency maps were revised and prepared for the Delimitation Commission. These maps exist in digital form. The ministry also managed to get delivery of all mapping materials that were formerly stored in Cape Town (South Africa) by the South African Colonial Administration. 

The ministry has been, and remains, concerned about development of its human resources. During 1998, twelve assistant land-use planners and nine land measurers completed their training and received certificates. Most of these land-use planners are already deployed to all the regions, while some of the land measurers are currently working at the Directorate of Survey and Mapping. The Institutional Support and Human Resource Development Project funded by the Netherlands government aims at training and developing human resources in the ministry to equip them with skills and knowledge and enable them to implement land reform programmes. Five staff members are currently studying through this project in South Africa and Nigeria.

Another training program has been established involving twelve Namibians from this ministry and other ministries, to obtain a National Diploma in Real Estate Valuation, conducted by the Technicon of South Africa.

By the year 2005, the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation will have achieved a rating by our stakeholders of at least 80 per cent in terms of living up to its stated values. By the year 2030, the ministry envisages to have achieved the following results:

1.      Resettlement of about 68 882 to 70 000 people (This projection is based on the present annual resettlement rate of 2222 people).

2.      Access 400 people with disability to formal employment opportunities.

3.      Access 1000 people with disabilities to self-employment and other economic resources.

4.      Access 200 children with learning difficulties to schooling facilities.

5.      Access 300 people with disability to vocational education.

6.      Have security of tenure in communal areas.

7.      Process 95% of topographical and cadastral products/services as required by