A Kavango East resident, who is suing Canadian oil and gas company, ReconAfrica, for allegedly illegally drilling on a crop field the family has owned for over 50 years, managed to convince the court to have the Kavango East Communal Land Board be a part of the ongoing suit.
Andreas Sinonge petitioned the High Court last year to have the land board be part of the court proceedings citing that the land being disputed falls within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, the land board is yet to consider ReconAfrica’s application for registration and ratification of the land rights. Thus, the outcome of the matter will have a direct impact on Recon’s application.
In the suit, Sinonge’s family claims the company illegally drilled on their land and in the process damaged it. ReconAfrica has denied the allegations.
The suit is also against ReconAfrica’s partner National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), the minister of mines, the minister of land reform, the minister of environment and the Shambyu Traditional Authority.
The land, to which the family has customary rights, has been in the family for 53 years and has been used for residential and farming purposes.
In December 2020, ReconAfrica allegedly started exploration activities on the land.
“I did not agree or consent to such disregard of my rights and destruction of the natural environment which we have nurtured,” said Sinonge.
He said none of the respondents made contact with him or the family to ask for permission to carry out exploration activities on land.
“I have no other land to occupy with my family. My natural resources and the forest are decimated and the first respondent (ReconAfrica) has dug out our crop field and removed the topsoil to a place unknown to me and intends to drill further despite its activities being unlawful,” said Sinonge.
Sinonge wants the court to order ReconAfrica to restore the family land.
Yuri Perez Martinez, ReconAfrica’s deputy general manager has denied the allegations by Sinonge. He said the company has not disposed of his land or any other community member’s and the allegations are unfounded.
He said Sinonge, in December 2020, was aware that ReconAfrica was allocated a portion of communal land in the area of Mbabi in Kavango East by the Shambyu Traditional Authority.
According to him, they have met and fulfilled all the requirements for lawful exploration in Namibia.
Yesterday, Windhoek High Court Judge Eileen Rakow postponed the case to 28 February for status hearing.