WALVIS BAY – Around 1 000 residents of the Ozondati settlement in the Erongo Region will today hand a petition to the governor calling for the removal of marauding elephants from Ozondati.
Ozondati is situated about 40 kilometres from Omatjete in the Erongo Region and about 100 kilometres from Omaruru. The area, whose residents include farmers, is frequently invaded by marauding elephants in search of water.
Last week concerned residents said about 30 elephants invaded the settlement searching for water at water holes close to the settlement. Concerned farmers yesterday told New Era they are sick and tired of empty promises by their leaders that the elephants would be removed permanently from their settlement. In a telephonic interview yesterday a concerned farmer said the settlement has been dealing with the elephant problem for several years now, which is a clear indication that not enough is being done to separate the beasts from the population. “Every year our leaders say the problem will be dealt with, but the elephants continue to invade our settlement. We on numerous occasions requested that an electrical fence be set up which will definitely keep the elephants from invading our settlement,” said another farmer who did not provide his name. Elephants not only drink up their scarce water, but also cause major damage to their costly water infrastructure, he said.
According to a traditional councillor from Ozondati, Fabianus Uaseuapuania, the constant invasion of elephants at the settlement is of great concern to the farming community. Residents of the besieged settlement confirmed that they would hand a petition to the governor of the Erongo Region, Cleophas Mutjavikua, today expressing their grievances.
“We are aware of the problems caused by the elephants and are currently looking for a permanent solution that would stop the elephants from invading Ozondati,” said another resident.
Residents also expressed fear for their lives due to the menace posed by the marauding jumbos. It is believed that the elephants enter Ozondati from the Kunene Region at unfenced places in the area of Khorixas. The Daures constituency councillor, Ernst Katjiku, last week admitted the frequent elephant visits are angering residents, including farmers, who want the situation to be addressed by their leaders before the giant beasts kill someone.
According to Katjiku, the invasion of elephants in the constituency is a growing concern, since the elephants not only destroy vegetation in the area but also deplete the scarce water resources meant for livestock. “The farmers are already affected by the drought and the area also lost a considerable amount of grazing due to veld fires,” he explained. He also revealed that they have already consulted the relevant authorities to collectively address the problem so that the terror-stricken community can finally have peace of mind.
Governor Mutjavikua last week acknowledged the problem and said government would find a solution, as elephants cannot continue to torment the settlement any longer. Last year, some 70 elephants roamed the area, damaging farm infrastructure as well as terrifying residents, which inevitably led to the heightening of human/wildlife conflict.