Zebaldt Ngaruka
Eight landless farmers who invaded a farm in Omaheke region earlier this year, feel neglected and discriminated against.
In April, the farmers occupied Farm Witsand, which had been idle for four years.
They were however arrested a few days later, and released on bail.
One of the bail conditions was that they must not visit Witsand farm, where they left their livestock, without police permission.
The farmers will appear in court again today.
Their spokesperson, Gerhard Xoagub said: “We were told to seek police permission to visit our livestock, but the police are threatening us with arrest for trespassing once we go there.”
He was baffled why police were refusing them permission to visit the farm.
“Why are they doing this to us? There are farmers in our situation who also occupied Farm Ozomba unlawfully, but they have access to their livestock,” said Xoagub, who is also a pastor.
He added: “This is unfair. We are accused of being motivated by the Landless People’s Movement, which is not true. Some of us are well-known Swapo members, who only need land to farm.”
The group questioned why government has allegedly prioritised resettling repatriates from Botswana while those in Namibia are also landless.
“We are voting here, and why is the government prioritising people who vote in Botswana to get land ahead of us?,” asked Xoagub.
The group accused Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate of ignoring their plight.
Attempts to get comment from Nganate on the matter proved futile. However, the chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Council, Ignatius Kariseb, said the land issue is sensitive, and must be handled carefully.
“We are busy finding an amicable solution to the situation. The regional leadership is busy looking for ways to assist them, including other farmers who are keeping their livestock in corridors and roadside,” he said.
He added: “My advice is for them to come and sit down with the regional leadership to find a lasting solution.”