Mulisa Simiyasa 

OMATAKO – The Otjozondjupa Communal Land Board is contemplating extending the deadline to remove 24 illegal fences in the communal area of Tsumkwe West.

Chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Communal Land Board Jackson Hindjou, on Friday told Nampa the initial plan was to complete the removal of the fences by 12 April 2025, but heavy rainfall in the area over the past three weeks has hampered the process.

Therefore, we are contemplating extending it to the end of April, depending on the assessment of what is still left standing,” he said.

The removal of the illegal fences in Tsumkwe West started when the team successfully removed three illegally-fenced-off tracts of communal land in the Okakarara Constituency from 18 to 22 March 2025. 

These three illegal fences measuring over 18 kilometres were situated at the villages of Ohamuheke, Otjiurutjokatjove and Ombujomenje.

Hindjou stated that the Otjozondjupa Communal Land Board is determined to remove all 24 illegal fences in Tsumkwe West, covering a distance of 148 kilometres in the villages of Kameelwood, //Ha-Du, Bubi Pos, Omatako and Kanovlei.

Thirty-two members of the National Youth Service have been contracted to dismantle the illegal fences in the region, and to confiscate the wires and poles used.

Hindjou emphasised the removal of illegal fences in communal areas is necessary to allow inhabitants to share natural resources without restricting access to good grazing, water wells, and fruit in the veld for others.

The removal of the illegal fences in Okakarara and Tsumkwe is being supported by the traditional authorities there.

!Kung Traditional Authority Senior Councillor Auho Ngavetene on Friday urged Tsumkwe residents to respect traditional authority protocols, and apply if they want to fence off their portions of land.

“Wait for permission in writing. Do not fence off communal land without a legal document,” he said.
-Nampa