Anti-fencing wave hits Kavango
With the two Kavango regions’ grazing land having become a destination for farmers migrating from other regions, farmers who fence off their land have found these fences forcibly torn down by community members.
Last week, the communities of Mile 20 and Mile 30 in Kavango West took matters into their own hands by removing fences from farms, claiming they were erected illegally. No suspects have been arrested yet, but videos of the fences being removed have been circulating on social media.
The issue is a result of cultural differences - those migrating from the central north are accustomed to fencing off land, while in the Kavango regions, this is not done because it limits the grazing area for livestock.
The Kavango regions have – over the years – been viewed as a ‘farmer’s paradise’, with little to no grazing in many other areas of the country.
It has often been alleged that politicians, senior government officials and those with money approach traditional leaders in the regions and use their influence to get land. This allegedly is done without the community’s consent.
This has resulted in the recent wave of fences being removed by disgruntled community members who argue that these fences disadvantage them as far as movement and grazing of livestock is concerned.
They further argue that once an area is fenced off, their livelihoods are affected because they can no longer follow the nomadic lifestyle as they once did.
Tribal undertone
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Mbunza Traditional Authority chief, Hompa Alfons Kaundu, weighed in on a fencing issue involving the deputy minister of home affairs, Daniel Kashikola, who was requested to remove his fence at Simeme village. This, Kaundu said, was after it was determined that the manner in which he received land he was starting to fence off was not in line with the required procedures.
The chief said despite some of the illegal fencing cases being reported, there is a tribal undertone to the matter, with some community members not welcoming those hailing from other regions.
“What happened at Mile 30 is the community was not happy with people erecting fences in their area. I then told them they should come to me and then we approach the owners of the land and address the issue amicably. They refused and went ahead, destroying the fences, saying the Oshiwambo-speaking people must go,” he explained.
“They are saying the Oshiwambo-speaking people must go because they are fencing off our land. They even accused me that the reason why I am trying to intervene in the matter is because I sold the land to the people.
“I told them it’s best if the owners of the fences are called and asked to remove them, instead of removing them illegally, as those persons then have the right to open a police case against the culprits.”
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Last week, the communities of Mile 20 and Mile 30 in Kavango West took matters into their own hands by removing fences from farms, claiming they were erected illegally. No suspects have been arrested yet, but videos of the fences being removed have been circulating on social media.
The issue is a result of cultural differences - those migrating from the central north are accustomed to fencing off land, while in the Kavango regions, this is not done because it limits the grazing area for livestock.
The Kavango regions have – over the years – been viewed as a ‘farmer’s paradise’, with little to no grazing in many other areas of the country.
It has often been alleged that politicians, senior government officials and those with money approach traditional leaders in the regions and use their influence to get land. This allegedly is done without the community’s consent.
This has resulted in the recent wave of fences being removed by disgruntled community members who argue that these fences disadvantage them as far as movement and grazing of livestock is concerned.
They further argue that once an area is fenced off, their livelihoods are affected because they can no longer follow the nomadic lifestyle as they once did.
Tribal undertone
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Mbunza Traditional Authority chief, Hompa Alfons Kaundu, weighed in on a fencing issue involving the deputy minister of home affairs, Daniel Kashikola, who was requested to remove his fence at Simeme village. This, Kaundu said, was after it was determined that the manner in which he received land he was starting to fence off was not in line with the required procedures.
The chief said despite some of the illegal fencing cases being reported, there is a tribal undertone to the matter, with some community members not welcoming those hailing from other regions.
“What happened at Mile 30 is the community was not happy with people erecting fences in their area. I then told them they should come to me and then we approach the owners of the land and address the issue amicably. They refused and went ahead, destroying the fences, saying the Oshiwambo-speaking people must go,” he explained.
“They are saying the Oshiwambo-speaking people must go because they are fencing off our land. They even accused me that the reason why I am trying to intervene in the matter is because I sold the land to the people.
“I told them it’s best if the owners of the fences are called and asked to remove them, instead of removing them illegally, as those persons then have the right to open a police case against the culprits.”
[email protected]
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