The leader of the Mbunza Traditional Authority in the Kavango West Region, Hompa Alfons Kaundu, has issued a warning to his subjects regarding their claims on ancestral land that they vacated years ago.
Hompa Kaundu delivered this cautionary message at Masivi Village, addressing a dispute between two families who are currently in conflict over a particular piece of land.
Hompa Kaundu asserts that when individuals abandon a piece of land within a communal area, that land automatically reverts back to the traditional authority.
According to Hompa Kaundu, this implies that the land can be allocated to any individual who follows the procedures outlined in the Communal Land Reform Act.
"We have noticed that certain individuals have moved to different villages, but upon learning that someone else has been granted land in the area where their previous homestead or crop fields were located, they return and begin demanding payment from that person. However, the honest truth is that when their parents initially requested that land, it was given to them free of charge by the traditional authority through the headmen and headwomen. Presently, all these individuals want is to sell the land."
The Headwoman of Masivi Village, Regina Nakale, supports Paulus Shimboyo's claim to the land, considering he has resided there for a period of 15 years.
"As far as I am aware, this land rightfully belongs to Paulus Shimboyo, including the camps where he used to keep his animals. I cannot recall when the individuals who are currently disputing this land resided or cultivated it. It is only in recent years that they have started claiming ownership of the land."
However, Eric Kanyime contends that the family actually bestowed the land to their cousin, who was in a relationship with Shimboyo at the time.
Kanyime asserts that the family's intention is to divide and allocate the piece of land among other relatives who are in need of land, without intending to dispossess Shimboyo.
However, Shimboyo is unwilling to comply with this proposal.
"I proposed that Paulus should join us for a discussion regarding the demarcation of the land among our family members, and he would also receive a portion of it, considering the land is quite extensive. However, he has refused to meet with us and, instead, is opposing us when we attempt to fence off our designated plots. The headwoman has been handling this matter for a considerable time now, and she is determined that it should be brought before the appropriate authorities."
Eric Kanyime further asserts that both the Headwoman and the Hompa have disregarded his account of events, which includes clarifying that Shimboyo never requested the land but was rather brought there by his former spouse.
Regarding the family's departure from the land, Kanyime explains that while their homestead was relocated from that specific piece of land, the family continued to cultivate their crop field there.