No place to graze

MANY Oshiwambo-speaking farmers last week started moving their cattle out of western Kavango in compliance with a High Court order – but not without first making their views on the situation clear.

They held a demonstration at Sasi village along the Kavango regional border on Saturday to voice their grievances, saying there was no place for their cattle in the former Owambo. They also handed over a petition – addressed to President Hifikepunye Pohamba – to the Office of the Ohangwena Governor.The cattle owners invited the Oukwanyama, Ondonga and Kwangali Traditional Authorities as well as the Governors of Ohangwena and Kavango and the Police to the demonstration.The Chairman of the Aawambo Herders’ Association, Vilho Kabila Hamunyela, told The Namibian that they had also invited the Ministry of Land and Resettlement, but it did not send a representative.The Ondonga Traditional Authority also did not send a representative, while the Governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, was represented by acting Chief Regional Officer Daniel Kashikola, who received the petition on his behalf.Kavango Governor John Thiguru and some of his officials were present and also talked to the cattle owners there.The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority was represented by the Chairman of the Traditional Council, Senior Traditional Councillor George Nelulu, while the Ukwangali Traditional Council was represented by its Secretary, Abisai Namwila.The cattle owners are complaining that they have been chased out of western Kavango without any arrangement where they can take their livestock.They are now in the Owambo-Kavango corridor, in which there is not enough grazing and water for their animals.According to last year’s figures, there are about 60 000 cattle that have to move out from western Kavango, plus goats, sheep, donkeys and horses.The petition called upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to intervene and tell the Government and the traditional authorities to give the farmers land as soon as possible.They also handed over a petition – addressed to President Hifikepunye Pohamba – to the Office of the Ohangwena Governor.The cattle owners invited the Oukwanyama, Ondonga and Kwangali Traditional Authorities as well as the Governors of Ohangwena and Kavango and the Police to the demonstration.The Chairman of the Aawambo Herders’ Association, Vilho Kabila Hamunyela, told The Namibian that they had also invited the Ministry of Land and Resettlement, but it did not send a representative.The Ondonga Traditional Authority also did not send a representative, while the Governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, was represented by acting Chief Regional Officer Daniel Kashikola, who received the petition on his behalf.Kavango Governor John Thiguru and some of his officials were present and also talked to the cattle owners there.The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority was represented by the Chairman of the Traditional Council, Senior Traditional Councillor George Nelulu, while the Ukwangali Traditional Council was represented by its Secretary, Abisai Namwila.The cattle owners are complaining that they have been chased out of western Kavango without any arrangement where they can take their livestock.They are now in the Owambo-Kavango corridor, in which there is not enough grazing and water for their animals.According to last year’s figures, there are about 60 000 cattle that have to move out from western Kavango, plus goats, sheep, donkeys and horses.The petition called upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to intervene and tell the Government and the traditional authorities to give the farmers land as soon as possible.