Namibia is preparing to roll out landmark legislation that would prevent foreign nationals from acquiring land, a move government officials say is aimed at correcting deep-rooted inequalities in land distribution.
Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani made the announcement while presenting her ministry’s budget before Parliament on Thursday. The proposed Land Bill, she said, will prohibit foreign citizens from owning land or receiving customary land rights anywhere in the country.
“This bill is not just a legal tool — it is a social commitment,” Zaamwani said. “It aims to open the door for landless citizens, corridor farmers, women and youth who have been historically excluded from land ownership.”
Originally tabled in March, the bill stalled following the end of the previous parliamentary session. Zaamwani confirmed the legislation will be reintroduced in the current sitting, describing it as a national priority.
The reform forms part of a broader agenda to reverse colonial-era land disparities that continue to affect many Namibians. In recent years, the government has begun acquiring private farms to expand communal land holdings — including in the Khomas Region, which had no communal land allocations in the past.
Zaamwani urged lawmakers to back the bill, calling it a crucial step toward equitable development. “It is our duty to ensure that land ownership in Namibia reflects the aspirations of its people,” she said.
If passed, the law would mark a major policy shift, positioning Namibia among a growing number of African states reassessing land access and ownership structures in favor of their citizens.