Tsumeb
A toddler, whose parents form part from the group of farmworkers evicted from Farm Berg Auckas last month, died recently from what is believed to be malaria, contracted from living the open.
About 200 farmworkers were evicted from the farm, which belongs to Namibia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr Peingondjabi Shipoh, and have since their eviction been living on the side of the road just outside the farm.
“The doctor told us that the child died from malaria and two other [children] are sick and have been in and out of the hospital lately. This is caused by mosquitos, because we don’t have any shelter. We’re just living in the open air,” explained the group’s spokesperson, Julietha Shimbojo.
The deceased child was buried in Grootfontein on Saturday.
Governor of Otjozondjupa Region Otto Iipinge declined to comment on the issue, telling this reporter to “stop disturbing” him, because he will not say anything on the matter.
“No, no, no, I will not say anything if it is on that matter. No comment,” Iipinge said on Wednesday, when asked if he is aware of the toddler’s death and what he intends to do to assist the evicted farmworkers.
Farm Berg Aukas changed owners several times over the years, with Shipoh acquiring it in 2011 from Ongopolo Mining. Since acquiring the land, Shipoh is said to have repeatedly requested the resident families to vacate his property, but his orders did not yield any positive response.
He then approached the courts to push for formal eviction – which too was met with stiff resistance from the group.
The group was then served with the latest eviction order last month, but refused to budge. The police then intervened to enforce the eviction order last month.
The group of evictees, which includes elderly people and small children, say they have nowhere else to go, with some stating that they have been at the farm since 1988.
They said – despite numerous follow-ups – their requests to the Ministry of Land Reform to be resettled have not yielded any positive results over the years.
As if losing their loved ones was not enough, Shimbojo said their animals are now set for auctioning anytime soon by the court sheriff, as they have failed to settle the costs incurred by the sheriff during the eviction process, which apparently amounted to N$154 000.
Shipoh previously distanced himself from the auction, saying: “I will not auction their animals. I don’t need them and I don’t need their money either, nor do I need any proceeds from the deputy sheriff. All I want is my farm. That’s it. Who is going to pay for the deputy sheriff’s services and security? Not me, I’m sorry!”
“The court sheriff presented to us a bill of N$154 000 last month, which we are supposed to pay to recover the losses he incurred, but to date we’re unable to pay him, because we don’t have the money. We have nowhere to get such an amount of money. As a result he will auction all our animals,” said an emotional Shimbojo.
The evictees claim they have close to 500 livestock, including donkeys, cattle, sheep and pigs, but the sheriff’s court papers, which New Era has seen, suggest that the group had only 140 animals in 2014.
“We appeal to the Office of President to assist us in any way they can. We are really in a desperate situation here.
“On the other hand, we are losing our loved ones and now our animals. How will we survive?” Shimbojo asked.