Ondonga palace shields Okashana land tenants

Although it has confirmed leasing between 20 to 50 hectares of communal land for N$20 600 for a period of five years, the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) has refused to share the list of the 54 beneficiaries – some of whom are alleged to be politicians and their cronies – of land at Okashana Kuukongo waNehale, which has allegedly left local communities without adequate grazing.A rumoured list circulating on social media alleges the beneficiaries of the farming units include politicians, well-established businesspeople, lawyers and friends and family of senior members of the traditional authority who are accused of using their influence to secure the land, which they have since fenced off, leaving local farmers scrambling for grazing.A press conference held at the traditional authority's offices in Ondangwa yesterday left the media puzzled, as OTA chairperson John Walenga and his fellow senior traditional leaders were unable to answer pressing questions regarding the matter.Additionally, they offered contradictory statements on the land fight at Okashana Kuukongo waNehale in Oshikoto Region.Walenga claimed the OTA has not seen a copy of a petition drawn up by disgruntled community members, nor was the matter reported to the OTA office.Not for the publicIn a prepared speech, Walenga indicated that the traditional authority had appointed a land surveyor, Business Success Consulting, owned by Kondjashili Moses, to demarcate 2 700 hectares of land at Okashana Kuukongo waNehale into 54 farming units, which were allocated to individuals for crop production.He said the beneficiaries were issued leasehold certificates in 2023, with the blessing of Ondonga Traditional Authority leader Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo, who is the sole custodian of the land in question and can allocate it to potential beneficiaries at his own discretion. During the question and answer session with journalists, when asked for the list of the beneficiaries who were issued with certificates, Walenga said the list would not be made available.“The list is not available,” Walenga said.Reporters were informed that the traditional authority is still verifying the beneficiaries' list, even though the beneficiaries have allegedly already fenced off the land and begun producing crops.Anger brewingTwenty disgruntled cattle herders from Okashana Kuukongo waNehale were recently arrested after allegedly destroying the fence of Simon Urbanus Nambahu, an alleged beneficiary of the scheme. Nambahu claims to have incurred N$500 000 in losses due to the damage to his fence.The incident occurred just days after over 100 disgruntled cattle herders and farmers residing in the Okashana area held a peaceful demonstration in Omuthiya and handed over a petition to Oshikoto regional governor Penda Ya Ndakolo, pleading for intervention into the matter.The group gave Ya Ndakolo a deadline for a response, which he did not meet. Allegedly, this prompted the destruction of the fences of about six of the farming units.Walenga yesterday said the traditional authority is yet to be furnished with the petition from the demonstration that was held on 5 September.Food security Walenga said the farming units were allocated after Nangolo had called upon interested individuals to apply for the land.While Walenga claims that the expression of interest by the king had been put out more than seven times, he and other leaders present could not share dates or any further details yesterday.Instead, Walenga insisted the king’s initiative is meant to achieve food security.“The purpose of Tate Omukwaniilwa [the King] to direct that part of the land in Okashana Kuukongo waNehale be used for crop and other agro-production is a noble one as it addresses the issue of fighting hunger and to contribute to the food security and development in our country,” Walenga said.As to the affected grazing areas, Walenga said that Okashana is a vast area and that there is ample land available.He called upon aggrieved residents to follow the right channels and procedures to report matters to the traditional authority and not take the law into their own hands.kenya@namibiansun.com

Ondonga palace shields Okashana land tenants

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Ondonga palace shields Okashana land tenants

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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