Kunene farmers hard hit, plead for help

THE Swapo Regional Co-ordinator for Kunene, Samtaca Katjizemo, has called on Government to suspend its resettlement programme and instead offer drought-stricken farmers in his region emergency grazing on farms bought by Government.

Katjizemo said the situation was worsened by rich commercial farmers and politicians who have moved into communal areas, particularly in the Grootberg area, and further depleting the already scarce grazing. He said farmers in Kunene South were the hardest hit – in areas such as Kanatseb, Soris-Soris, Khorixas, Fransfontein and Morewag.”Some of the farmers from the areas have moved with their livestock in a very poor state to the corridors along the main roads, which I personally view as a threat to the road users,” Katjizemo said in a statement after a tour of the region to assess the situation.He said veld fires in the region, coupled with poor rains, have caused havoc with far-reaching consequences for people.”The need has arisen that we take urgent and drastic action that would put emergency measures and mechanisms in place on top of the already existing state mechanism,” Katjizemo said.He has already called on the Governor of Kunene Region, Dudu Murorua, to take up the plight of the farmers with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.He said farmers in Kunene South were the hardest hit – in areas such as Kanatseb, Soris-Soris, Khorixas, Fransfontein and Morewag.”Some of the farmers from the areas have moved with their livestock in a very poor state to the corridors along the main roads, which I personally view as a threat to the road users,” Katjizemo said in a statement after a tour of the region to assess the situation.He said veld fires in the region, coupled with poor rains, have caused havoc with far-reaching consequences for people.”The need has arisen that we take urgent and drastic action that would put emergency measures and mechanisms in place on top of the already existing state mechanism,” Katjizemo said.He has already called on the Governor of Kunene Region, Dudu Murorua, to take up the plight of the farmers with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.