Grabbing of church land irks Shifeta

Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta has urged traditional, local and regional authorities to return land to churches that has been seized by individuals.Shifeta made this remark following a report by Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) Bishop Shekutamba Nambala that certain individuals are confiscating church land.Nambala was speaking at the signing of a 20-year agreement between the Oniipa town council and Elcin, which will see the local authority developing two museum sites into flourishing tourist destinations. He did not specify which church land had been confiscated or seized, but said that churches have lost their land to individuals.“Churches have lost their land due to individuals confiscating it, thinking that church land belongs to everybody. We are trying by all means to preserve the land for future national developments, however, individuals are taking the land and when pastors are fighting for such land people think they are mad,” Nambala said.He said churches do not have a problem with availing land to the government for development. Nambala said in the past they had already allocated land for the construction of government properties, such as local and regional authority offices, clinics, schools and much more. Shifeta said these reports were very disturbing and urged local, traditional and regional authorities to take action to make sure that the church land is returned.“Things need to be done according to the law and in a proper way. As government we would like to preserve these areas and we need to develop them, but only if churches allow us,” Shifeta said.He said no one has the right to take anyone's property.“Authorities need to protect properties. These are focal areas with potential to attract tourists from all over the world, but if there are no facilities it will be difficult to attract them,” he said.In 2015, while officiating at a black and white photo exhibition at the Olukonda's Nakambale Museum, former President Hifikepunye Pohamba said the history of Namibia from the late 19th to early 20th century is intertwined with the spread of the Christian gospel, carried by missionaries from Europe. He said many of today's towns were missionary stations, where missionaries established churches, health facilities and carried out activities to teach communities the art of reading and writing.The Olukonda area and the Oniipa town council, where the Elcin head offices are situated, are faced with challenges from influential members of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, who have been accused of confiscating land and who are reportedly also grabbing municipal land.ILENI NANDJATO

Grabbing of church land irks Shifeta

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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Grabbing of church land irks Shifeta

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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