LIVESTOCK farmers at some villages in the drought-stricken Kunene region are battling each other out of desperation for grazing land.
Ondore village, one of the few areas with grazing land, is currently overcrowded with livestock after farmers from neighbouring villages invaded the area in search of pasture.
This has led to squabbles between the desperate farmers and villagers, who are unhappy that their animals have to compete with herds of livestock on what they consider their land.
The villagers are accusing the farmers of overcrowding their area and finishing the available grass for their livestock, Vakauta Tjambiru, who relocated to Ondore with her livestock from Etanga, says.
“Our livestock are no longer with us. The people here at Ondore told us to get our livestock out of Ondore, because they will finish the grazing land, which is not enough,” she says.
Tjambiru says some children moved the animals out of the area.
“There are more than 10 people squatting here. We used to at least get milk from our goats, but now we have nothing. We eat at the dumpsite at Opuwo,” she says.
Tjambiru says she walked all the way from Etanga with her children and elders.
“Imagine walking 100 km with livestock. You spend nights on the way and hunger is another issue, and when you get to your destination you are moved out of the village,” she says.
Phillip Handjambi, also a livestock farmer, moved his remaining livestock from Okangwati to Ondore.
He says it took him three days to do so.
“I put the animals that seemed weak in cars,” Handjambi says.
He says there is not enough grass for all the animals.
“They want to move us to the other side of the road, because they say our animals will consume all the grass that belongs to the people of Ondore,” Handjambi says.
He says the grass on the opposite side of the road will not last long.
Kunene governor Marius Sheya yesterday said he is not aware of the issue and therefore cannot comment.
