Auleria Wakudumo
At least 22 illegal fences in the Okongo constituency of the Ohangwena region are set to be removed.
It will cost around N$500 000 to remove the fences.
This is after farmers failed to comply with lawful instructions issued by the Ohangwena Communal Land Board, while investigations into dozens of other fences across the region are still ongoing.
This was confirmed to New Era by the chairperson of the Ohangwena Communal Land Board, Wilhelmina Shakela.
According to Shakela, the board has so far received reports of 196 illegal fences across the Ohangwena region, of which 126 have already been investigated. The remaining cases, particularly in constituencies such as Omundaungilo and Oshikunde, are still under investigation and adjudication.
“All the fences that are currently earmarked for removal are located in the Okongo constituency,” Shakela said, adding that the board is following a structured legal process as required by the Communal Land Reform Act.
The board initially received formal complaints from community members, who alleged that communal grazing land within commonage areas was being unlawfully privatised by individuals through fencing.
Following the complaints, the board embarked on extensive public awareness campaigns across the region, warning residents against illegal fencing and the privatisation of communal land.
Traditional authorities and headmen were also engaged and sensitised to refrain from allocating land in areas designated for common use.
“Despite these sustained efforts, unlawful fencing regrettably persisted,” Shakela noted.
She said following investigations, all reported fences were verified and mapped, after which individuals alleged to have erected the fences were served with 30-day summonses. Hearings were conducted, and the board found that the fences had been erected in contravention of Section 18 of the Act.
Offenders were subsequently issued with notification orders directing them to remove the fences voluntarily within 30 days or to appeal the decision to the executive director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land reform.
Shakela said appeal tribunals appointed by the minister later dismissed all appeals, affirming that the board had acted lawfully and that the fences were erected without authorisation.
“While some farmers complied, the majority did not. Between April and December 2025, only four farmers in Okongo constituency voluntarily removed their fences, a move the board described as commendable,” she explained.
However, 22 farmers failed to comply, leaving the board with no choice but to invoke Section 44 of the Act and Regulation 27, which allows the Board to appoint a contractor to remove illegal fences.
“All costs incurred during the removal process will be recovered from the offenders,” Shakela said.
She added that criminal proceedings, fines or imprisonment may follow where applicable. Shakela stressed that illegal fencing deprives communities of access to grazing land and natural resources and undermines the sustainability of communal areas.
She said that any person who engages in the unlawful privatisation of communal land will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
