This paper examines the market-based land reform (MBLR) and its various
social, economic and political implications under the Land Reform and
Resettlement Programme (LRRP) in Namibia. The paper, as a critique of the
MBLR model, argues that in substance the MBLR does not effectively
constitute a redistributive mechanism for land reform; process-wise MBLR
undermines the good intentions of redistributive State-led land reform policies.
This paper also argues that market-related compensation serve to perpetuate
economic inequalities and poverty rather than equitable distribution.