The Ministry of Lands issued a media statement in which it named 50 communal farmers guilty of illegally grazing their cattle in the Ukwangali Traditional Authority area and reminded them that they have received eviction orders.

The notifications of eviction were served on the farmers by the Kavango Communal Land Board between November 18 and 23 last year.

Cabinet had also told them to remove their herds from the Kavango Region.

In December, hundreds of people from the Ukwangali tribal area staged a demonstration to express their unhappiness about the Government's delay in evicting Oshiwambo-speaking cattle farmers and their herds.

Lands Permanent Secretary Frans Tsheehama issued a statement in which they reminded the 50 communal farmers of the eviction notices.

He said 23 others would be served with similar notices.

Failure to comply with the eviction orders could incur a one-year jail term or a fine of N$4 000.

The Oshiwambo farmers have refused to budge despite receiving eviction orders from the Kavango Land Board.

They say they have nowhere to take their herds because large areas of the former Owambo are fenced off by rich farmers.

They have said that they would only move their herds if the Government and the Ondonga and Oukwanyama tribal authorities gave them land in former Owambo.

Demonstrators from the Kwangali area claimed that the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers were violating national laws such as Articles 102 (subsection 5) and Article 10 (subsection 1) of the Namibian Constitution, the Traditional Authority Act as well as the Communal Land Reform Act.

The Kavango Communal Land Board served the eviction order on the following farmers: Aina Mwahanyekange, Ismael Shailemo, Hamunyela Vilho, Nghihaepa Lauli, George Nelulu, Lotta Ndiwakalunga, Hailya Saratiel, Isaak Kayofa, Vatileni Paulus, Jonas Hetambi, Aune Sara Amkongo, Thomas Ileni, Ileni Sheyavali, Mukwendje Tomas Sheyavali, Hamupanda Moyove Johannes, Mwakotoka Amupanda, Shipala Shomaongo, Ndakalako Johannes, Angula Haikali, Washanga Haimbodi, Kambwali Kapanda, Kamwiya Shipandeni, Kambonde Abraham, Nghikambe Mwandingi Elia, Shitumbeleni Elavi, Mwahafa Tuweda, Ndeutapo Hosea, Kandjumbo Haitembu, Haimbodi Frans, Frans Matheus, Munyakwa Malakia, Shishake Sakaria, Mwaaladise Shikemeni, Ndakolute Eliazer, Sheelongo Nghitombo, Nekongo Moses, Amukongo Ndakulilwa, Jonas Willem, Petrus Nghiyabwa, Willem Haludilu Wanahanya, Halweendo Sackaria, Teodor Nghilendele, Paulus Shiyekeleni Nghipangelwa, Haufiku Joseph Kanjuku, Ndakolo Tembu, Johannes Nghidengwa Kaasheta, Vatileni Mateus, Lazarus Mulundu, Festus Nghifikepunye and Thomas Newaya.

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