Lylie Joel

NKURENKURU – The Kavango West Communal Land Board investigated 43 cases of illegal fencing throughout 2025, the majority of which stemmed from land allocations supported by traditional authorities, according to the deputy director for the Division of Lands in the Kavango West region under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Justine Milinga.

In an interview with Nampa recently, Milinga said that 40 of the 43 cases were referred to the Mbunza and Ukwangali traditional authorities for adjudication and resolution, while three cases were submitted to the minister of land  for removal.

“Based on the merits of each case, the Board investigates reports of illegal fencing received, and the findings will determine whether or not to refer such cases to the traditional authorities for adjudication and resolution,” Milinga explained.

An additional three cases submitted to the Minister before 2025 are currently with the National Youth Council (NYC) for removal before the end of the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year.

The Board faces significant challenges in addressing illegal fencing, as offenders often refuse to voluntarily remove their structures after being notified. Appeals against board decisions also delay action, as the board can only proceed once appeals are finalised and judgments delivered.

“Illegal sale of land is the biggest challenge,” Milinga noted.
A key issue identified is the involvement of traditional authorities in the problem. Milinga said the majority of illegal fencers possess consent letters from traditional authorities, indicating that such allocations have official support.

“The Board does not have issues with the allocations, but only with the illegal fencing,” she said. “The board expects that when allocations are done by the traditional authorities, people allocated such land must be informed that illegal fencing is not allowed.”

The Board permits fencing of homesteads, gardens, crop fields, boreholes and kraals, but prohibits the fencing of commonage areas, where communities depend on grazing, browsing, the collection of wild fruits, medicinal use and other customary land uses.

When complaints are lodged about such fences, it indicates that people are being obstructed or deprived of access to commonage areas. Where proper procedures were not followed to obtain authorisation, removal notices are issued after investigation.
Milinga said the board works with the NYC, as the contracted entity, to carry out the removal of illegal fences when resolutions by traditional authorities point to their removal.
-Nampa