Cops move in on farmers

THE Police have started cracking down on Oshiwambo-speaking farmers who are grazing their cattle in west Kavango in defiance of eviction orders.

One farmer has already been arrested. Last year eviction orders were served on more than 40 farmers illegally grazing animals in the Ukwangali tribal area.At the time, they were told to have their cattle out of the area by November 19 or face legal consequences.While the precise number of farmers from the former Owambo in the area is not known, the number of cattle they have grazing there is estimated to be more than 60 000.The Regional Police Commander for the Oshana Region, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, confirmed to The Namibian that officers had been sent to west Kavango to enforce the eviction orders issued against the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers in November.Anghuwo said according to information he had received from the Kavango, Police officers were telling farmers that they had to leave the area within seven days.The Police’s Chief of Operations, Major General Tuwefeni M’lukeni, was yesterday quoted as saying that the farmer was arrested last week and has already appeared in court.The spokesperson for the affected farmers, Vilho Hamunyela, told The Namibian that he had heard of the arrest.According to Hamunyela, the farmer was detained at Kahenge.The farmer was reportedly granted bail of N$500 and the case was referred to Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa for a decision.Anghuwo could not give the name of the arrested farmer, but Hamunyela said he was believed to be one Ndiwakalunga, who was grazing his animals in the Ndjingidji grazing area in western Kavango.It is believed that, in addition to the more than 60 000 cattle that farmers from the former Owambo have in Kavango, they are also grazing goats, sheep, donkeys and horses there.The farmers, who have formed an association called the Ovawambo Herders’ Association, claim they are in Kavango legally and have refused to move until Government made available grazing pastures for them in the former Owambo.In the past the farmers have said they would not move until Government provided them with alternative grazing.Some farmers have said that they sought and were granted permission to graze their animals in west Kavango, but that other farmers subsequently moved in illegally.Government ordered the cattle farmers, mainly from the Ondonga and Oukwanyama tribal areas, to return to their areas after the Uukwangali Traditional Authority complained that they had taken over the grazing areas illegally.Last year eviction orders were served on more than 40 farmers illegally grazing animals in the Ukwangali tribal area.At the time, they were told to have their cattle out of the area by November 19 or face legal consequences.While the precise number of farmers from the former Owambo in the area is not known, the number of cattle they have grazing there is estimated to be more than 60 000.The Regional Police Commander for the Oshana Region, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, confirmed to The Namibian that officers had been sent to west Kavango to enforce the eviction orders issued against the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers in November.Anghuwo said according to information he had received from the Kavango, Police officers were telling farmers that they had to leave the area within seven days.The Police’s Chief of Operations, Major General Tuwefeni M’lukeni, was yesterday quoted as saying that the farmer was arrested last week and has already appeared in court.The spokesperson for the affected farmers, Vilho Hamunyela, told The Namibian that he had heard of the arrest.According to Hamunyela, the farmer was detained at Kahenge.The farmer was reportedly granted bail of N$500 and the case was referred to Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa for a decision. Anghuwo could not give the name of the arrested farmer, but Hamunyela said he was believed to be one Ndiwakalunga, who was grazing his animals in the Ndjingidji grazing area in western Kavango.It is believed that, in addition to the more than 60 000 cattle that farmers from the former Owambo have in Kavango, they are also grazing goats, sheep, donkeys and horses there.The farmers, who have formed an association called the Ovawambo Herders’ Association, claim they are in Kavango legally and have refused to move until Government made available grazing pastures for them in the former Owambo.In the past the farmers have said they would not move until Government provided them with alternative grazing.Some farmers have said that they sought and were granted permission to graze their animals in west Kavango, but that other farmers subsequently moved in illegally.Government ordered the cattle farmers, mainly from the Ondonga and Oukwanyama tribal areas, to return to their areas after the Uukwangali Traditional Authority complained that they had taken over the grazing areas illegally.