The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has clarified its earlier statement regarding the proposed auction of Farm Neu Progress No. 506 in the Khomas Region, confirming that the property falls within the expanded municipal boundaries of the City of Windhoek.

The clarification follows further internal verification and consultations after the ministry previously raised concerns over the applicability of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act, 1995, to the property.

According to a ministerial statement issued by Romeo Muyunda, Farm Neu Progress No. 506 forms part of the Windhoek local authority area following a Government Gazette proclamation issued in September 2011 by the then Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural D

As a result, the ministry said the provisions of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act do not apply to the property. These include the Government’s right of first refusal, waiver requirements and ministerial consent relating to foreign ownership of agricultural land.

“The ministry therefore acknowledges that the earlier concerns raised regarding the applicability of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act were based on information available at the time and have since been clarified following a comprehensive review of the legal and administrative status of the property,” the statement said.

The ministry nevertheless reiterated the importance of ensuring that all land transactions within Namibia fully comply with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks governing land ownership, land use, and property transactions.