Mariental gets 65ha of land from Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) bishop Abraham ||Kheibeb on Wednesday handed over a letter of transfer to Mariental mayor Ethel Isaacks, confirming the donation of 65ha of church-owned land to the Mariental Municipality. The land, identified as portion 5 of farm Koichas No 89, has been illegally occupied by residents since […] The post Mariental gets 65ha of land from Lutheran Church appeared first on The Namibian.
Black News 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) bishop Abraham ||Kheibeb on Wednesday handed over a letter of transfer to Mariental mayor Ethel Isaacks, confirming the donation of 65ha of church-owned land to the Mariental Municipality.
The land, identified as portion 5 of farm Koichas No 89, has been illegally occupied by residents since 2012.
In a formal address, ||Kheibeb said the donation was made in the spirit of partnership and service, recognising the role of local authorities in advancing development and improving community welfare.
“On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia, I formally extend the offer of 65ha of church-owned land to the municipality of Mariental,” he said.
He said the church will cooperate fully with the municipality to ensure a smooth and transparent legal and administrative transfer process.
||Kheibeb further expressed hope that the land will be utilised for initiatives aimed at uplifting the lives of Mariental residents and strengthening cooperation between the church and civic leadership.
Isaacks described the occasion as a “day of gratitude and hope” for the community.
She said the land has been occupied by families seeking shelter for over a decade and commended the church for opting for a humane solution instead of evictions.
“The church chose to donate the land to the Mariental Municipality, with the clear intention that the necessary processes be undertaken to service the land and enable residents to access decent housing,” she said.
Isaacks said despite leadership changes within both the church and municipality over the years, the commitment to resolve the matter remained intact.
She said the donation represents more than land and is an investment in people and their future.
“This handover allows us to move forward with processes to regularise the area, provide services, and ensure residents can obtain legal tenure and, in time, title deeds,” she added.
The donation follows a series of engagements between church officials, as well as local and regional leaders, aimed at finding a lasting solution for the informal settlement.
Isaacks said the municipality will ensure that the development of the area is orderly, inclusive and responsive to community needs.
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