Residents of Omusati's Amaupa and Oikokola villages are fuming over the lack of cellphone network coverage, resulting in them resorting to climbing trees in search of a network.

The fed-up villagers handed over a petition to the Tsandi Councillor and the Governor of the Omusati Region.

The villagers say the non-availability of network coverage has made it difficult for them to report incidents of crime and emergencies.

They are calling on MTC, or Telecom, to erect a network tower in their villages.

Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala assured the demonstrators that they had not been forgotten.

"The issue of the network has already been requested by Telecom to provide the number of communities that need Telecom installation, and I think their village is one of them. It will definitely be addressed."

The villagers also complained about elephants that continue to cause destruction to their mahangu fields and feed on their produce.

"We demand the fees for the destruction of a mahangu field by elephants and any other wild animals be increased to N$10,000 per hectare with immediate effects and be paid on time. We also demand that the fees for cattle killed by elephants be increased to N$8,000 per cattle," said Petrus Shiweva, who was the group's spokesperson.

They also need a clinic, as they currently travel more than 50 kilometres to Omandongo for services as well as electricity.