Villagers fall by the wayside

The formalisation and expansion of Ongwediva has residents who own livestock and mahangu fields irate with them accusing the Ongwediva Spatial Development Framework Plan of chasing them off their land without paying them proper compensation.
According to the new plan, all the villages in the town lands will have to go.
Residents are claiming that the town council has already started threatening cattle owners, using radio broadcasts, that they will confiscate their livestock. They further accuse the town council of collecting their animals from their kraals and confiscating them directly. Many of these cattle owners allow their animals to graze freely within the town lands. In terms of the by-laws, these animals can be confiscated.
Ongwediva Town council has introduced a new town plan that will see the town changing from town council status to municipality. The plan affecting all the villages in the Ongwediva town lands and the council is busy consulting residents so as to inform them on the new plans and to get their input on the plan. Affected villages include Oupumako, Omusheshe, Efidi lomulunga, Elyambala, all Oshinyadhila villages and Elyambala. Thse will all be incorporated into the new township.
On Saturday, town council officials and some council members held a consultative meeting with residents of Elyambala who raised their dissatisfaction with treatment they say they have received from Ongwediva Town Council regarding their land.
Residents are claiming that officials simply enter their mahangu fields and start surveying their land without speaking to them. They are saying that this is a sign that they do not respect them for their land.
“You people of Ongwediva Town Council must respect us for our land. You cannot just come into our mahangu fields and start surveying without talking to us. You must also stop sending your people to come chase after our livestock and because they come as far as getting them from our kraals so that you can ask for money from us,” a resident said at the meeting.
Residents are also claiming that the compensation they get from the council for their land is very little and cannot afford them land and a proper house anywhere. They are saying those who are already victims of this are suffering and have nowhere to stay.
According to town council’s environmental health and public officer, Penda Kashihakumwa, the town is expanding to meet new demands.
“Remember we have a railway line and a planned south gateway road all coming from Ondangwa to Oshakati passing our town on the far south. We are now planning development so that Ongwediva will benefit from the transport routes and traffic will not just pass by.”


“We have also received requests for agricultural land, industrial areas and luxurious residential areas that we need to provide land for. By incorporating all of these, the town will grow bigger. Therefore, we are requesting for your assistance as land owners,” Kashihakumwa said.
According to the new plans, Omusheshe and Oupumako will form part of a luxurious residential area, while Oshinyadhila will be the industrial centre because it is closer to the railway line.
Residents also raised their dissatisfaction with the new Ongwediva zonation, saying the issue of extensions and their names is confusing them and people don’t know which extensions are which. They proposed that the town council to come up with proper zone names and not extensions. Councillor John Shitundeni and Ulalia Katonyala attended the meeting.
The plan will be implemented as soon as the council approves it after the public consultation process.
ILENI NANDJATO