Grazing crisis in the North persists

FARMERS who have been evicted from the western Kavango will ask Government to remove fences in the eastern part of the former Owambo so that their cattle can graze there.

“We are willing to go out, but the Government, the Oukwanyama and Ondonga Traditional Authorities have to provide an area where we can go and settle with our animals, ” said Vilho Hamunyela, one of the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers. When The Namibian visited the area over the weekend, farmers and cattle herders said the communal area bordering Kavango, measuring 50 km by 200 km, had been completely fenced off by rich farmers, including high-ranking Government officials.The farmers want these fences removed so that their cattle can have a place to graze.They said they would also ask Government to erect a fence between Kavango and the former Owambo to prevent their cattle from returning to Kavango.They say their cattle are familiar with the Kavango grazing areas and will try to return there.Hamunyela said the farmers evicted from Kavango will have a demonstration at Eenhana this morning, where they will hand over a petition to the Governor of Ohangwena Region, Usko Nghaamwa.A source told The Namibian that they would demand that the entire 50km x 200km strip be given back to the Ovakwanyama and that all fences in that area be removed by the Government.Government and the Ukwangali Traditional Authority of Chief Sitentu Mpasi in western Kavango last week ordered all Oshiwambo-speaking farmers in western Kavango to move out by the weekend.Kavango Governor John Thighuru says Chief Mpasi will send the Police to the grazing areas today to make sure that all the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers and their cattle herds have moved.Although some farmers have started to move their cattle, many cattle are still in Kavango and the farmers say they don’t know where to go.A source told The Namibian that there is now a clear division between the Mangetti Farmers’ Association and the small farmers on the fencing of communal grazing areas.The Mangetti Farmers’ Association, representing rich farmers, is in favour of fencing, while the small farmers and some Traditional Authorities feel it leaves them nowhere to graze their cattle.When The Namibian visited the area over the weekend, farmers and cattle herders said the communal area bordering Kavango, measuring 50 km by 200 km, had been completely fenced off by rich farmers, including high-ranking Government officials.The farmers want these fences removed so that their cattle can have a place to graze.They said they would also ask Government to erect a fence between Kavango and the former Owambo to prevent their cattle from returning to Kavango.They say their cattle are familiar with the Kavango grazing areas and will try to return there.Hamunyela said the farmers evicted from Kavango will have a demonstration at Eenhana this morning, where they will hand over a petition to the Governor of Ohangwena Region, Usko Nghaamwa.A source told The Namibian that they would demand that the entire 50km x 200km strip be given back to the Ovakwanyama and that all fences in that area be removed by the Government.Government and the Ukwangali Traditional Authority of Chief Sitentu Mpasi in western Kavango last week ordered all Oshiwambo-speaking farmers in western Kavango to move out by the weekend.Kavango Governor John Thighuru says Chief Mpasi will send the Police to the grazing areas today to make sure that all the Oshiwambo-speaking farmers and their cattle herds have moved.Although some farmers have started to move their cattle, many cattle are still in Kavango and the farmers say they don’t know where to go.A source told The Namibian that there is now a clear division between the Mangetti Farmers’ Association and the small farmers on the fencing of communal grazing areas.The Mangetti Farmers’ Association, representing rich farmers, is in favour of fencing, while the small farmers and some Traditional Authorities feel it leaves them nowhere to graze their cattle.