Ref: 13/6/26
20 March 2007

MEDIA BRIEFING FROM CABINET CHAMBERS

Cabinet took the following decisions at the 4th 2007 meeting of the 4th Government held on 13 March 2007:

1. SYNCHRONISATION OF VALUATION OF FARMLAND FOR THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION LOAN SCHEME AND THE NATIONAL LAND REFORM PROGRAMME

In emerging economies, where land ownership has been a subject of political and economic debate, land is used as an instrument of economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.

Acceptable economic principles dictate that demand and supply are the major determinants of value. It is important to ensure that new entrants into the agricultural sector do not fall victim to inflated farm prices. It is therefore, necessary that agricultural land valuations reflect fair market values. Such values must be linked to the capacity of the land to produce agricultural products and ensure that a return can be realised from the proper marketing of such products. A fair market value can be achieved provided that valuations are conducted on a professionally sound valuation basis.

It is against this background that Cabinet adopted the income capitalisation approach as the appropriate method to be used in conjunction with the other methods of valuation, especially the sales comparison approach with respect to the valuation of farmland for the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme and the National Land Reform Programme.

Cabinet furthermore, resolved that the official carrying capacity figures as given by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry should be used as the basis for determining carrying capacity and stocking rates of properties to be valued. Cabinet also approved that the Agricultural Bank of Namibia and the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement adopt the above valuation model for the valuation of agricultural land for the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme and the acquisition of land for resettlement purposes.

Cabinet instructed the Agricultural Bank of Namibia and the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to prepare a detailed manual on the implementation of the valuation approach. The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement was also instructed to amend the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act, Act No. 6 of 1995 to bring it in line with the above valuation approach.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement at telephone number 2965000.


In February 2007, Cabinet confirmed Namibia’s interest in entering into concessional loan agreements with China and resolved that such concessional loans should cover both the needs of the public and private sectors.

The Namibian Government, under the Office of the Prime Minister, wants to secure funding under the concessional loan agreement for the implementation of an Electronic Documentation and Records Management System (EDRMS) across the public service. This is viewed as a mission critical project in terms of existing E-Governance policy directives.

The EDRMS project team evaluated various appropriate software solutions and found that the system offered by CA-CSS Software Technology Ltd will be best suited for the requirements of the Namibian public service. The system is not only government user friendly, but also offers easy-to-use interfaces and robust application software that will link up with already familiar public service platforms to ensure records and archival compliance.

Cabinet, therefore, endorsed the Electronic Documentation and Records Management System (EDRMS) project for the Public Service under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister on condition that it complies with tender procedures.

Cabinet furthermore, authorised the EDRMS project as suitable for funding under the concessional loan facilities offered by the Government of China. Cabinet instructed the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission to discuss the side-conditions, terms, modality of accessing the preferential loan and credit facility for the purpose of financing the EDRMS and other priority projects in Namibia with the Chinese Government. Cabinet also granted approval for the arrangement of the grant and the use of the concessional loans for the EDRMS project by EXIM Bank of China, subject to concurrence by the Chinese Government.

Further information can be obtained from the Office of the Prime Minister at telephone number 2879111.

3. PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING QUOTA LEVIES FOR THE YEARS 2000/01/02 AND 2003/04

Cabinet authorised limited relief measures to the fishing industry in August 2005 following a number of operational challenges, such as unfavourable exchange rates, flat markets, high fuel prices and unfavourable catch size mix. Cabinet indicated at that time that fishing companies must make payment plans to settle outstanding quota fees and that those plans should not go beyond 31 December 2006.

A total of 25 right holders benefited from the relief measures, but only 21 submitted payment plans at the time. Of them, only 9 have fully settled their outstanding quota fees, while 13 have not paid in full and 4 did not make any commitment on the amount outstanding despite several reminders that were sent to them.

Against this background, Cabinet approved the full payment of all outstanding quota fees, amounting to N$22 962 100.45 before 29 June 2007. Cabinet also resolved that companies owing money for the 2000 to 2004 fishing seasons should submit their payment plans to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources by 19 March 2007.

Cabinet also instructed the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to commission a study to look into issues of fees charged by the Government. Fees to be included in the study are:
quota fees;
license fees
by-catches fees;
landing fees;
observer fees; and
uncaught fees.

The study should also recommend a mechanism on to how to subtract a portion of a quota from a right holder who failed to pay quota fees.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources at telephone number 2053911.


4. FREE TRADE AREA AGREEMENT (FTA) BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION (SACU) AND THE EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AREA (EFTA)

The negotiations for the Free Trade Area (FTA) between the Southern African
Customs Union (SACU) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) took place over six rounds during the period May 2003 to August 2005. Namibia signed the SACU/EFTA agreement on 14 July 2006 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The Agreement comprises of the main text, which contains the general provisions and scope, and the annexes which deals with specific issues of Territorial Application, Agriculture, Processed Agricultural Products, Industrial Products, Fish and Marine Products, Rules of Origin, Mutual Administrative Cooperation on Customs Matters, Customs Duties and Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures.

Cabinet, therefore, noted the conclusion and signing of the SACU/EFTA Free Trade Agreement and authorised the Minister of Trade and Industry to table the Agreement in the National Assembly for ratification. Cabinet also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present the instrument of ratification to the SACU Secretariat.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Trade and Industry at telephone number 2837111.


5. NATIONAL OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

At the last Parliament Session of 2006, Parliament approved Namibia’s accession to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation of 1990 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs effected the accession on behalf of the Namibian Government.

State parties to the Convention are obliged to have national systems for responding promptly and efficiently to oil pollution incidents in place.

The Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, with the assistance of the International Maritime Organisation and in collaboration with all stakeholders drew up the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan for Namibia. The purpose of the Plan is to provide for a safe, timely, effective and co-ordinated response to any oil spill affecting Namibia’s coastal and marine environment.

It is against this background that Cabinet granted approval to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication and the Office of the Prime Minister to launch the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan at the earliest opportunity. Cabinet also declared the Plan as an operational document for combating any oil spill in Namibia under the national emergency system located in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication at telephone number 2088111.


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,

I also want to use this opportunity to address two other issues that featured in the news lately. The first issue is that of the National Society of Human Rights accusing the Government of the Republic of Namibia of fuelling tribalism. The second issue is the internal security situation in Zimbabwe.

Accusations by the National Society for Human Rights
In a media release dated 22 February 2007, the National Society for Human Rights accused the Government of the Republic of Namibia of fuelling tribalism in the Caprivi region. The NSHR based its accusations on the disputed area of jurisdiction between the Mafwe and the Masubia Traditional Authorities at Muyako village.

When the issue of Muyako came to the attention of the Government in 2003, His Excellency, the President referred the matter to the Council of Traditional Authorities.

Accordingly, the Council of Traditional Leaders in terms of Article 102 (5) of the Namibian Constitution, as well as Section 14 of the Council of Traditional Leaders Act of 1997 (Act No 13 of 1997) and as amended by the Council of Traditional Leaders Amendment Act of 2000, (Act No 31 of 2000), made recommendations to the President.

The President dealt with the recommendations in terms of Section 14 (2) of the aforementioned Act and communicated the recommendations to the relevant stakeholders through the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development.

As you maybe aware, one of the parties has taken the issue to court and since the case is now sub judicae, the Government cannot further comment on it.

The Namibian Government wants to caution the National Society for Human Rights that it is agitating tribalism in its media release and such actions are not in the interest of peace, security and the national development of the country. The skewed utterances and observations of the NSHR have the potential to shatter the peace and stability that Namibia has enjoyed for the past 17 years.

Article 10(2) of our Constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, which by implication includes tribalism. The Government of the Day is under oath to uphold the Constitution and it has been doing so since independence in 1990. Realising the importance of peace, unity and stability, the Government also adopted the policy of National Reconciliation to ensure that Namibians bury their differences and live together in harmony. Harmonious co-existence is necessary to allow the country to flourish in a stable environment.

If the National Society for Human Rights was really concerned about the case, it could have approached the Government on the matter, instead of taking it to the media.


Internal security situation in Zimbabwe

The Namibian Government took note of the public outcry on the internal security situation in Zimbabwe.

Namibia is a peace loving nation and believes that a country’s socio-economic development and the well-being of its citizens are dependent on a stable political and socio-economic environment. Namibia has never and will never condone violence, as it is not in the best interest of a country or its people. Namibia is, therefore, of the opinion that peace and stability in Zimbabwe is important to allow the citizens of that country to continue with their normal lives.

It was also encouraging to learn from the Zimbabwean Ambassador in Namibia that her Government is not condoning the violence in Zimbabwe and that investigations are underway to establish the true cause and real culprits responsible for the violence.

The Namibian Government is convinced that the Government of President Robert Mugabe and the people of that country have the capacity and the will to solve its own domestic problems without the interference of other countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,

Tomorrow, Namibia is commemorating 17 years of independence. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate H. E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Cabinet, the Government and the people of the Republic of Namibia for their efforts in consolidating democracy and collectively working towards a fair, gender responsive, caring and committed nation in which all citizens are able to realise their full potential in a safe and decent living environment.

While celebrating 17 years of independence, we should not forget the heroic sacrifices of our compatriots who paid the highest price so that we can enjoy liberty, justice, equality and fraternity.

As you know, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his Zambian counterpart, His. Excellency President Levy Mwanawasa will be the guests of honour at the independence celebrations in Swakopmund. Other leaders will address independence celebrations throughout the country.

Since the media’s mandate is to inform, educate and entertain, I trust that you will be able to cover celebrations country-wide to give Namibians the opportunity to see how people from different regions celebrate our National Day.

Thank you for the contributions you are making towards informing the Namibian nation. I wish you all joyous independence celebrations and look forward to see your coverage of the event.

I thank you.