TOWARDS RECONCILIATION OF THE LAND ISSUE IN NAMIBIA - IDENTIFYING THEPOSSIBLE, ASSESSING THE PROBABLE

This paper argues that the case against a major land reform in Namibia is overstated and inaccurate, and that, in spite of its relatively ha rsh climate, the country contains sufficient land of good enough quali ty, and a small enough population, to undertake a major land reform. T he paper suggests that the reasons why there is generally a conservati ve estimate of possible solutions to land hunger are largely related t o the prevalence of a conservative colonial intellectual legacy in spi te of radical ambitions stated by the SWAPO (South West African People 's Organization) government. Furthermore, many commentators and offici als in Namibia are following a pattern in Africa of ignoring lessons ( positive and negative) from other countries-in this case particularly From aspects of Zimbabwe's land reform. The paper explores the compari son with Zimbabwe in order to emphasize the political lessons availabl e for Namibia's land reform, but it also highlights practical lessons which exist, In spite of the fact that most of Zimbabwe's environment is generally much better suited to agriculture than is Namibia's.