By Alvenus F. Dreyer

This call goes out to all stakeholders in particular the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, regional councils and local authorities as well as traditional authorities. 

There is an urgent and pending need for the issue of communal land fencing to be brought to the fore for open and meaningful discussion. Open and meaningful discussions aimed at ensuring that at least existing fences on communal land (mostly border-fences) are upgraded and maintained.

 For this to happen, other important role-players like communal farmers’ associations and unions must come on board and also show more visibility. We can no longer afford to tolerate a situation where our productivity on communal land continuous to be negatively impacted as a result of poor and or no proper fencing on communal land. 

The majority of those feeling the pinch of having no proper control over their agricultural produce are the ones who for a very long time continue to cry. Yet despite this sad reality, communal farmers contribute towards the GDP of Namibia.

 Overemphasising the need for communal fencing would be like telling an already buckled up motorist to buckle up for their own safety. How frustrating this can be, being aware that you are already buckled up. Makes one wonder whether bureaucrats and those with decision making power, are not sensing the importance of this issue of national concern. 

This call is thus for all stakeholders to ensure that communal farmers are properly consulted for the purpose of establishing a workable plan for communal fencing. On the other hand, another equally important call goes out to the German government to also list communal fencing as an important activity in their budget dealing with genocide reparations. 

Prioritising communal fencing as an important capital project must continuously feature on quarterly and annual meetings of all stakeholders.