THE !Oe #Gan Damara community that does not recognise the leadership of the government-backed chief Immanuel /Gâseb on Thursday occupied the Damara People’s House at Okombahe.
The ownership of the house has been in dispute between the Damara King’s Council of Justus //Garoëb and the !Oe #Gan Traditional Authority of Chief /Gâseb for many years. Both leaders claim to be the rightful Damara ‘Gaob’ (king).The aggrieved community elected Abed Ganaseb to ‘dethrone’ /Gâseb and appoint a new council last year, which call themselves the !Oe #Gan Traditional Community. This council says the government should not have handed over the house to /Gâseb’s traditional authority, as it’s a house for the Damaras built by Damaras under //Garoëb in 1986.The house was officially handed over in 2011 to the !Oe #Gan Traditional Authority during an event attended by Dâures Constituency Councillor Ernst Katjiku and Erongo governor Cleophas Mutjavikua.The !Oe #Gan Damara community is divided along party-political lines – the group under /Gâseb supports Swapo and the Garoëb loyalists mainly support the United Democratic Front (UDF).The fact that the UDF lost the Dâures Constituency to Swapo during the 2010 regional elections for the first time since Namibia’s independence is another factor that is driving the community apart.At the official handover, it was stated that the house would be used by the community, but until now, the new council feels that they have not enjoyed any benefit from the house.According to the spokesperson for the !Oe #Gan traditional council, Apius Auchab, who was the former Dâures Constituency councillor, /Gâseb’s traditional authority is ‘breaking down and extending’ the house in order to build a traditional court.’This is not what the plan was. It is supposed to be a people’s house, especially to serve as accommodation for the Damara chiefs and our king,’ said Auchab.The new council, who believe they represent the majority of the !Oe #Gan community, have since the handover last year petitioned the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development regarding the rightful ownership of the house.After several months, a letter of ‘proof’ was issued to the new council, but was rejected. According to them, the government’s explanations about the ownership of the house were flawed.In the letter Auchab, stated that the house was built with taxpayers’ money.’The house was built by the Damara people before independence,’ Auchab argued.Auchab also referred to the N$400 000 that the former Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development, Nicky Iyambo, through the former Prime Minister, Hage Geingob, donated to the Damara people to build a hall at the house.’Why did the government not do it themselves if it was a government tender?’ asked Auchab.Last week the community had enough of the government’s efforts – or apparent lack thereof.’We waited for the government to respond for over a year. Last week we decided to occupy the house peacefully. About 130 community members moved in. By occupying, we hope to force Government to come with proper answers. If not, we will not move,’ he said.Police were called in to remove the occupiers.’Okombahe was full of police, and they wanted to remove us by force, but we stood our ground,’ according to Auchab.Erongo Police Commissioner, Samuel //Hoëbeb intervened and suggested that the occupiers submit another letter to the ministry – with a deadline – to organise a meeting involving all stakeholders.The letter is expected to be delivered this week.’We will give Government one week to respond, otherwise we will occupy again, and then we will stay until we have reasonable answers,’ said Auchab.When approached for comment, Mutjavikua proposed that the matter be taken to court.’This will be the best way to resolve the issue. This group is still aggrieved, but they cannot prove their claims – Government can. Namibia is established upon the rule of law, and so the people should not take the law into their own hands,’ he said.Katjiku told The Namibian that the matter ‘was resolved already’ when the government handed over the house to the !Oe #Gan Traditional Authority./Gâseb shared the same opinion with the governor and Katjiku.’If they still feel aggrieved, and have proof that the house belongs to them, then they should go to court,’ he told The Namibian.
