THE Congress of Democrats (CoD) said Government’s ‘freeze’ on land distribution and development has created an unnecessary problem of squatters at Groot Aub, and called for an immediate lifting of the ‘unjustifiable’ moratorium in place since 2004 to allow residents access to land to fend for themselves.
Secretary general of the CoD Tsudao Gurirab said access to land was crucial for the survival of the Groot Aub community, which that largely consists of small-scale farmers and pensioners. ‘It is scandalous that Government and all the relevant agencies have turned a blind eye to the marginalised people who live only 45 kilometres from the seat of government,’ Gurirab said. He said what appears to be happening at the same time is an illegal selling of plots and granting of plots by Swapo Party functionaries with whom the Khomas Regional Council ‘works in cahoots’. Members of the Groot Aub community have held meetings over the last month, and have made repeated appeals to the Khomas Rural councillor Frederick Arie to hear their plea. They have also planned to present a petition to Arie, who in the meantime has claimed no knowledge or responsibility for the alleged illegal land handouts by some individuals at Groot Aub.Gurirab said Government should work with the community and their committees instead of calling them names and victimising them. ‘Government should be seen to be helping communities to help themselves instead of being in the forefront of creating poverty and destitution,’ he added.
