Grazing dispute turns ugly22 charged for vandalising farm in Oshikoto Emotions are running high in the Oshikoto Region, where Oshikwanyama-speaking and Oshindonga-speaking farmers are competing for scarce grazing. ILENI NANDJATOA shortage of grazing has turned into a tribal dispute in the Oshikoto Region, leading to the arrest of 22 community members for vandalism.
Both the Ondonga senior headman for the Onalusheshete district, Eino Shondili, and the Oshikoto regional councillor for the Nehale lyaMpingana Constituency, Leevi Shiningombwa, have confirmed that a lack of grazing sparked a tribal dispute in the area.
Shiningombwa told Namibian Sun that Oshikwanyama-speaking farmers are being targeted and forced to leave their grazing areas.
Their farms are being vandalised, grazing on their farms has been burnt and they have also reported being threatened with physical harm.
The conflict came to light when 22 villagers from Elavi No. 2 in Onalusheshete district of the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) appeared in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court two weeks ago.
They were arrested for allegedly vandalising a farm belonging to the Oshikwanyama-speaking Jonas Shiningeni to have a farm among the Aandonga near their village.
When Namibian Sun visited the area near Omangetti last week, it was informed that in the 1980s, the OTA reserved Onalusheshete district as a grazing area.
Whoever wanted farms was allocated communal land.
The tracts of land issued then were large and now with the scarcity of grazing, the Aandonga are claiming their land from the Aakwanyama.
Many were forced out and those who remained behind are allegedly still being victimised.
“It has been reported to me that Oshikwanyama-speaking people are being victimised by the Aandonga. Grazing on their farms is being burned down or their fences are being cut to make life difficult for them. Recently people of Elavi No. 2 were arrested after vandalising a farm belonging to an Oshikwanyama-speaking owner,” Shiningombwa said.
Shiningeni told Namibian Sun that in the 1980s, together with other farmers who are still in the area, they were allocated land by the OTA to set up communal farms.
Like others, he fenced off his portion but the fence was removed by members of the community in 2005 after he was labelled a “foreigner”.
“It is a big loss for me. Every time I buy new fencing material and people vandalise it. Currently, the community destroyed four to five kilometres of the fence. I just travelled from Windhoek to see what happened and I am not happy with it,” Shiningeni said.
Oshikoto police spokesperson Stephan Nuuyi confirmed that 22 people from Elavi No. 2 appeared in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court on 15 November on charges of malicious damage to property.
According to Nuuyi, the people started vandalising the fence in the presence of the police.
“When community members threatened to remove this fence, the OTA sent us to that area to engage the community members not to take the law into their own hands because the fence is legally there. The owner had been authorised by the OTA to set up his farm.
“While we were busy engaging them, these people just walked out of our meeting and started vandalising the fence. We were left with no other option but to arrest them,” Nuuyi said.
Headman Shondili said when that fence and others belonging to non-Aandonga farmers were vandalised in 2005 the perpetrators were summoned by Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas.
“I am urging people of Ondonga not to be tribalistic. Ondonga belongs to everybody and we are even having non-Aandonga people heading villages. Let us respect one another. Whoever has a problem with another person must take up the case with the leadership of Ondonga,” Shondili urged.