Only 9 may return to Kavango

ONLY the nine farmers whose names appear on a recent High Court application may return to grazing areas in western Kavango, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement said in a statement yesterday.

Last Thursday, the High Court ordered that the nine Oshiwambo-speaking farmers who were evicted from western Kavango about a month ago must be allowed to return to that area until proper legal steps are taken to evict them again. Only nine of the many Oshiwambo-speaking farmers evicted from western Kavango lodged the High Court application.Maria Kasita, the Deputy Director in the Division of Land Boards, Tenure and Advice, says farmers seem to have misunderstood the court ruling.”The ruling made by the High Court, we understand, is only in favour of those nine farmers who found themselves in the specific area before and at the time of the ruling.New farmers seeking grazing should do it legally and through the Chief of the Traditional Authority in collaboration with the Kavango Communal Land Board,” said Kasita.She said anybody occupying communal land in the Kavango Region without the permission of the Kavango Communal Land Board or the concerned traditional authority would be guilty of an offence in terms of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002.Such people would face criminal prosecution as well as legal eviction by the Communal Land Board or the local traditional authority, Kasita emphasised.She said traditional authorities may set conditions if they do approve applications for grazing rights, and may also withdraw such rights on any reasonable grounds.Those who want additional information should contact their traditional authority offices, Communal Land Board offices or the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, she added.Only nine of the many Oshiwambo-speaking farmers evicted from western Kavango lodged the High Court application.Maria Kasita, the Deputy Director in the Division of Land Boards, Tenure and Advice, says farmers seem to have misunderstood the court ruling.”The ruling made by the High Court, we understand, is only in favour of those nine farmers who found themselves in the specific area before and at the time of the ruling.New farmers seeking grazing should do it legally and through the Chief of the Traditional Authority in collaboration with the Kavango Communal Land Board,” said Kasita.She said anybody occupying communal land in the Kavango Region without the permission of the Kavango Communal Land Board or the concerned traditional authority would be guilty of an offence in terms of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002.Such people would face criminal prosecution as well as legal eviction by the Communal Land Board or the local traditional authority, Kasita emphasised.She said traditional authorities may set conditions if they do approve applications for grazing rights, and may also withdraw such rights on any reasonable grounds.Those who want additional information should contact their traditional authority offices, Communal Land Board offices or the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, she added.