SWAKOPMUND/OREVIA – President Hifikepunye Pohamba has urged traditional leaders to ensure the allocation of communal land is done in such a way that the poor are not deprived of benefiting from their ancestral land.
He raised concern over the increasing reports of illegal fencing of communal land in some parts of the country and said some traditional leaders allow illegal fencing in areas under their jurisdiction that causes unnecessary tension among people.
He pointed out that the government would not tolerate such practices as it deprives the poor of their livelihood.
Pohamba was speaking at the official opening of the 16 annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders currently underway in Swakopmund.
Referring to the main culprits, the president said not all Namibians can afford to buy even a single pole, let alone fence off land. “Those who do have money are making themselves guilty of illegal fencing in communal land. This practice is of serious concern for the government as it is depriving the poor of access to communal land for grazing and other essentials. Therefore they are the ones who need protection from their traditional leaders,” stressed Pohamba. He said that traditional leaders should continuously consult with their line ministry to deal with such issues.
“However when the minister takes action against these ill practices, he is taken to court. But bear in mind the court was created for all so that we abide by the law,” he emphasised.
He reminded traditional leaders that the allocation of communal land should be done fairly for the benefit of all Namibians.
“The law gives certain powers to traditional authorities and communal land boards to administer land together with government. Therefore, the allocation of communal land must be done in accordance with the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act and it is of utmost importance that we adhere to the process when allocating land,” Pohamba observed.
The Council of Traditional Leaders meet annually since its establishment 16 years ago to share ideas and exchange views on issues of nation building. The meeting also provides an opportunity to traditional leaders and representatives of government institutions to deliberate on critical issues affecting their communities. The meeting ends on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement hailed residents of Orevia communal area in Omaheke for being the first to respond positively to the Communal Land Reform Act by removing illegal fences in order to free land for all community members.
Marvin Sisamu, deputy director in the lands ministry based at Gobabis yesterday revealed at a community meeting in Orevia that seven out of eight people who erected illegal fences removed the fences after being issued with notices, while the eighth asked for an extension to December to remove the fence.
“I am appealing to you, (Aminuis Councillor Erwin Uanguta) that all fences encroaching on communal land should follow the example of Orevia for
all to benefit,” he said, further urging all traditional leaders in the region who have erected illegal fences to be an example to their subjects.
He said that if implementers did not respect the law, the law would be rendered useless.
Sisamu said that last year November the community wrote a letter to the lands ministry requesting that all illegal fencing be removed, upon which the ministry made an investigation that led to the removal of the said fences.
“These are not the only fences in Orevia. There are still more existing fences,” he said.
He explained that two types of fences exist, which are the old ones that were put up before the Communal Land Reform Act was passed in 2003 and the fences erected after the Act was passed.
Although the Act does not prescribe to those who had put up their fences before the new Act, they still need to seek authorisation from the lands ministry before March 1, 2014 to keep those fences.
Sisamu said that the old fences could still be removed through Section 37 of the Communal Land Reform Act which stipulates the minister may investigate the validity of the fences and decide whether they should be removed or be retained.
He informed the community the minister of lands appointed a committee that will be sent to Orevia next month to investigate the remaining fences.
The lands deputy director said that even President Pohamba stressed the dangers of illegal fencing at the traditional leaders’ conference that started on Monday in Swakopmund.
“This is not an issue of Orevia or Omaheke (Region) alone; it is a national issue,” he said.
On his part, Aminuis Councillor Erwin Uangut said that illegal fencing was not only a big problem in Omaheke but it stretched as far as Okakarara and Omuguluwombashe.
“We take our hats off to Orevia residents,” said the councillor, warning those who intend to put up illegal structures that they will be eventually be caught out and be made to pay heavily.
He said farmers’ cattle were grazing in corridors while some fenced loff arge portions of land, creating problems for others and the elderly pensioners.
“There are laws and procedures. You will be caught eventually, even if you pat yourself on the shoulder today for having taken large portions of land,” he
said.
Ukarapo Tjirombora, headman and traditional leader of Orevia said that the community started removing illegal fences in August.
“We came together to remove illegal fences,” he said, adding that the poorer farmers were being suppressed by wealthier farmers who take large portions of land.
He said that there was still tension and non-cooperation from some wealthier farmers who are still holding onto illegal camps.
“Some of them claim that they acquired the land from elders who had already passed on,” he said and further noted this was just a ploy to get away with illegal fencing.
Pumaa Katuuo, a resident of Orevia, said they want communal and to be open to everyone, which he added would give all a right to co-exist.
He stressed that traditional leaders were also to blame for illegal fencing as they sometimes fence off land themselves and then protect others who do the same.
“Our people want to kill each other (over illegal fencing), it’s a dangerous situation,” he said.
About 80 percent of communal land in Omaheke is said to have been fenced off causing common grazing areas to diminish at an alarming rate.
By Eveline de Klerk and Magreth Nunuhe