GROOTFONTEIN – As the saying goes, “The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.”

However, without land, even optimistic Namibian farmers would approach farming with a pinch salt. 

One such indiviudual is 29-year-old Usko Shinishipwa, a young farmer from Grootfontein who started from the bottom and worked his way up from being farmhand to livestock owner. 

However, he now faces the heartbreaking possibility of losing his animals simply because he has no grazing land for them. 

Shinishipwa is a father of four with a fifth child on the way. He owns more than 400 livestock, including cattle, goats and sheep. Despite his hard work and determination, many of his animals now roam the streets and open spaces of Grootfontein – a situation that has put him on a collision course with the municipality under its proposed impounding policy.

“I know this is not a good place to graze livestock, but I have no choice. I have tried everything, but failed,” he told New Era while standing firm in front of his kraal, hands in his pockets, admiring at his livestock.

Born and raised in Grootfontein, Shinishipwa’s journey into farming began in 2018 when he worked on a commercial farm. 

When his boss retired, Shinishipwa was inspired by him and his father to pursue farming full-time. “We couldn’t agree on a good exit package, so I decided to start farming on my own. I stayed committed and over time, my livestock grew to more than 400,” he said proudly. But building his herd was only half the battle. Without land of his own, Shinishipwa has been forced to seek temporary grazing arrangements with farmers around Grootfontein. That effort has largely failed due to the size of his herd and exhorbitant rental charges. “I have approached many farmers in the surrounding area to rent grazing land, but most turned me down because I have too many animals. Those who agreed are charging N$120 per cow and N$120 per five goats or sheep per month,” he said.

Currently, Shinishipwa is renting from four different farmers, but that is still not enough space for all his animals. He now has 65 cattle, 65 goats and 65 sheep grazing in Grootfontein town. “I even sold many animals and sent some to the village, but I still have some in town. I’m renting where I can, but it’s not enough. And I don’t want to lose them,” he said.

Desperate to find a long-term solution, Shinishipwa has made more than 10 applications to the ministry of land reform for a resettlement farm. But all his applications have gone unanswered.

“I never even received a call, email or text message acknowledging receipt of my application,” he said, visibly frustrated. “That’s why I came back to Grootfontein with my animals.” Recently, he applied for a loan from Agribank to buy a commercial farm but was rejected due to collateral issues.

“I meet the stock rate requirement. I have two houses and a plot, but their total value is below the N$1.1 million collateral needed,” he said. “Now I’m thinking of selling more livestock just to raise that money. That’s the only way to save them from being impounded.”

For Shinishipwa, time is running out.

“My last hope is selling more livestock so I can meet the bank’s collateral requirement. Maybe then I can finally get a farm of my own,” he said. Until then, his dream remains caught between bureaucracy and survival, and his animals, a symbol of years of hard work, remain at risk in the streets of Grootfontein.

Crisis

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Grootfontein is dealing with a growing crisis of illegal grazing at the town.  It is a situation that frustrated both residents and officials. In an interview this week, mayor Talitha Garises described illegal grazing as one the “biggest problems” the town currently faces. Despite repeated warnings and meetings with livestock owners, farmers continue to allow their animals to roam Grootfontein’s streets and open spaces.

“You can even see it when you’re driving – cattle are everywhere in town,” said Garises. 

“We have called in the farmers and we have talked to them several times. We know who the animals belong to through the ear tags, but the farmers are just stubborn. The livestock still roam the town,” Garises said, adding that the issue is spiralling out of control.

The mayor said the municipality has tried to control the situation but is powerless without a formal livestock impounding policy.

 “We have no law to back us up. If we impound animals and they die in our pens, the council will be held accountable,” she said.

The proposed impounding policy is currently with the Office of the Attorney General, awaiting approval by Cabinet. Until then, the municipality’s hands are tied.

“We are waiting for the proposal to become law. Only then can we legally impound animals, auction them, and avoid being held responsible if something happens,” said Garises.

She added that Grootfontein’s situation is different from towns like Oshakati and Ondangwa, where communal land laws allow for shared grazing. “Our land is commercial. We don’t have communal grazing areas. This policy is specifically made for Grootfontein and fits our conditions,” she said.

“Even the local police say their hands are tied too. If we take someone’s animals, that someone must feed and care for them. And if the animals die in our custody, the owner can take us to court,” Garises explained.

She said that during drought years, the council allowed grazing in town out of compassion.  “Now that the rain has come, there’s no excuse. These farmers must take their cattle back where they belong. But they continue to bring them back,” she said.

Fertile grass

Grootfontein’s fertile soil has made things worse. Lush grass attracts not only local farmers but others from nearby areas.

“Our soil allows grass to grow fast. That’s why people are bringing their cattle from as far as Okakarara to graze here,” Garises said.

She added that in some cases, livestock are being kept in residential yards, which poses serious health and safety concerns.

“People just don’t care anymore. If one brings goats, the next brings sheep and the next brings pigs. We’ve found livestock in people’s backyards, in the town,” she said.

The mayor also revealed that some livestock grazing in town technically belong to farms just outside the municipal boundary.

“We checked ear tags and found that some cattle are supposed to be near Berahukas, but their owners haven’t returned them,” she complained.  The council pleaded with farmers to cooperate. “We are really compromised. We are doing our best but we need that by-law to take proper action,” she said.