The King of Ondonga, Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, has pleaded with the Ukwangali chief to give the farmers two or three months to move their estimated 60 000 cattle from the area.

Thighuru told The Namibian that Safety and Security Minister Peter Tshirumbu Tsheehama met with Chief Mpasi and his traditional councillors on Monday.

At the meeting, the Minister told the chief about Government's decision that all Oshiwambo-speaking farmers must remove their livestock from western Kavango immediately.

He also conveyed King Elifas's plea to the chief, Thiguru said.

He said although Mpasi and his councillors had sympathy with the farmers' position, they wanted the cattle to leave immediately.

"The Chief said those who want to come back have to re-apply and their applications will be carefully reconsidered," Thighuru told The Namibian.

The Governor said the order was being broadcast on the NBC's Rukwangali radio service, and Police would also visit villages to inform cattle herders that they had to leave the area by Saturday.

One of the affected farmers, Vilho Hamunyela, earlier told The Namibian that many people had already started moving their livestock, but the 'great trek' was causing hardship.

Pregnant cows and those with young calves were finding it especially hard, he said.

Cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep and horses were suffering from thirst, Hamunyela said.

Fences around large areas of the former Owambo region were blocking the herds and they could not reach water points.

"You cannot even drive your animals [into] the former Owambo from Kavango, because the whole eastern part has been fenced off, from the Angolan border to Tsintsabis in the Oshikoto Region," Hamunyela complained.

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