Windhoek
Drought-stricken villagers of Ovitoto in Omatako Constituency, Otjozondjupa Region, are crying foul over the manner in which bales of lucerne (grass) are being distributed, claiming that only Swapo members and those known to Otjozondjupa Governor Otto Ipinge are benefiting.
The aid, totalling 800 bales, was donated by the southern regions to Otjozondjupa, after Ipinge in his state of the region address earlier this year declared a drought in the region and called for assistance in combating the natural disaster. About 80 farmers benefited from the aid with each getting 10 bales.
However, it is the way in which the much-needed grass is being distributed that has the villagers angry at Ovitoto, which covers over 60 000 hectares of communal farmland with close to 20 settlements.
These concerns were confirmed to New Era by Omatako Constituency Councillor Israel Hukura, who further indicated that they are not far-fetched.
“This is how I suspected things will turn out. After people donated the bales the governor sent a delegation led by the Otjozondjupa Regional Council Chairperson, Julius Neumbo, to do an assessment of the drought needs here,” said Hukura.
“However, Neumbo who was joined by Swapo’s district and regional coordinators made it clear that the governor wanted the names of the prospective recipients of these bales of grass and wanted them immediately,” stated Hukura.
Hukura explained that in a hasty consultation with traditional leaders and those representing the farmers’ body in the area, a list emerged highlighting at least four heavily-hit settlements.
“He [Neumbo] told us that the governor might change and add new names of beneficiaries to the list as he knows the villagers of Ovitoto.”
According to Hukura, they were not informed of the criteria which Ipinge would use in altering the list.
“When the list returned for distribution, we noticed that some names were removed and replaced with those of other people, some of whom do not even own any livestock at all.”
He said this had one hard-hit settlement completely cut out from the donation as none of its farmers appeared on the revised list.
“I was left with no choice than to plead with farmers who got bales to at least donate one bale from their stock, so that we can cater for these forgotten villagers. Only two of the 80 refused to help but the rest helped.”
Hukura added that the concerns of villagers that only Swapo members in the area are benefiting from the aid might be right, based on the presence of Swapo leaders at the handover ceremony. Ipinge did not respond to questions sent to him and those left with his office on the subject while his mobile phone went unanswered. Neumbo is believed to be out of the country.
Meanwhile, Swapo’s Otjozondjupa regional coordinator Susan Hikopua maintains that her party is ready to come and present their side at a public meeting which the people of Ovitoto can convene.
“The governor did not give the grass to Swapo members only. It was the councillor of Omatako himself who provided the governor with the names of the beneficiaries,” Hikopua explained.
“I was born and grew up here in Ovitoto and just because I am a Swapo leader does not mean I need permission from anyone to attend government, official or other community events concerning this area where I am from.”
“The issue here is that the councilor and those whom he consulted unfortunately left some people out and are now trying to play politics and shift this blame to Swapo.”
Hikopua stressed that she and the Omatako district coordinator Moses Hikopua attended the handover ceremony, to only observe the event, and never said or did anything to influence the process.
“Swapo has an office in Ovitoto fenced off and being guarded – if it was Swapo’s grass why would we take it to the councillor’s office and not our own office? And that does not also mean that it would have been Swapo members alone benefiting from the assistance.”
On his part, Moses said that he attended the proceedings because he is also a beneficiary but explained that Hukura had only provided 65 names, while Ipinge added 15 to reach the total of 80.
“What they are saying is false and I challenge them to a community meeting where we will all present our cases for the people to judge,” said Moses.
Moses said 70 of the beneficiaries on the list are Nudo members while 10 belong to Swapo.