Modernising Traditional Land Rights in Namibia: Power Struggle or Fruitful Cooperation?

Land is a key element to socioeconomic development, peace- and state-building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, land is inherent to local identity and is inextricably linked to power. In Namibia, land rights were previously administered and allocated by traditional authorities (e.g. chiefs or kings). However, with the modernization of Namibia’s political system, land allocation procedures were successively changed by the state. In contrast to previous times, the power of land allocation has been transferred to other political levels (local and regional state governance) and traditional authorities have been deprived of their power. Drawing on empirical evidence from 36 interviews conducted in Namibia with state officials, traditional authorities of the Nama and Ovambo ethnicity and other professionals, this paper examines how state authorities have introduced this new system and how the introduction affects traditional authorities. More importantly, it examines the (potential) conflicts that might arise due to this power transfer.