ONDERAJAHOROA – The N//anaca, resettled in 2015 at Onderajahoroa village some 30km from the Gam settlement, have reported a devastating loss of over 127 cattle which have mysteriously vanished into thin air.
Headman //Ao Cwi said the community initially received 90 cows and three bulls from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in 2017. Over time, the herd multiplied, reaching 127 cattle, before they began vanishing.
The headman stated that most of the cattle have either mysteriously gone missing, or were seen being driven away by individuals on horseback.
Despite repeatedly reporting the matter to their designated coordinator, he lamented that no action had been taken to address the issue.
Cwi said the cattle had multiplied to 200, but more died in 2019 due to drought.
The headman expressed frustration over the lack of intervention, emphasising the devastating impact the losses have had on the community’s livelihood.
The livestock were donated to help the community rebuild their lives, but people have started stealing the cattle, keeping them perpetually vulnerable and marginalised.
The community was initially provided with basic services such as water, boreholes, a clinic, a school and a garden. However, none of these facilities are functional at the moment.
The headman continued that the school was closed because there are no longer any school-going children, and the mobile clinic ceased operating after most residents left the area for various reasons.
One of the main reasons cited for this exodus is hunger. He said the government had also discontinued the monthly food distribution.
“People are hungry. We only receive food twice a year now. We are not used to that, so we had no choice but to relocate. The structures remain, but we’ve moved elsewhere to find employment,” he said.
When New Era visited the site in November last year, the resettlement area appeared abandoned, with no signs of recent activity or footprints visible. This journalist had to travel further to locate the community members, and eventually found the headman and his wife in the middle of the settlement.
Cwi added that they had returned to the area in search of survival resources because the government had not been providing food on time. Other residents were reportedly not present, as they, too, had moved to seek better opportunities elsewhere around the Gam area.
When the community was initially resettled, there were about 50 members, excluding children, and the population grew over time.
However, some adults have since passed away, and others have relocated.
“We were doing fine, but now we are hungry and constantly disturbed by the majority community here. To avoid further conflict, we abandoned the site to them for peace. In other locations, you can work in exchange for water or food. It is better than being harassed or beaten for no reason,” he said.
The headman expressed a desire for the government to resettle them in areas like Tsumkwe, where other San communities are more populous.
San coordinator in Gam, Frisco Tuahuka, confirmed that a case of suspected cattle theft has been reported to the police, and investigations are ongoing. However, they refuted claims that 127 cattle were lost, stating that 60 remain, 30 are missing, and the rest died due to drought.
On the allegations of abuse, Tuahuka said the community had reported the issues to him, but he could not act without substantive evidence. “Yes, they have claimed abuse, but there were instances where they retaliated, even using pangas on others’ cattle,” he observed.
Gam police station commander Inspector Mweetako Johannes confirmed that investigations into the stock theft cases are ongoing. However, he declined to provide further details, stating that only the regional spokesperson or community policing officer could disclose additional information.
-ljason@nepc.com.na