In Namibia, the spokesperson of minister of land reform, Chrispin Matongela, publicly dismissed rumors spread in the country stating that the upcoming second edition of Land Conference, which was to take place in November 2016, has been cancelled.

Matongela on June 16 confirmed that the conference will be held next September.

The spokesman added that the 14 necessary regional consultations which are to be carried out for the event to be effectively held are expected to begin mid-July. They will be conducted by four teams made of senior officials from the ministry of land reform and other significant individuals. The first consultations will start in the Khomas region.

The upcoming edition of the land conference comes after a first which was organized in 1991 and during which had been discussed issues such as access to commercial lands and farmers’ protection against abusive exploitation.

The new edition should help initiate land reform in Namibia. Various local groups have even told the government they would oppose any law sent to the Assembly before the second land conference.