The "special treatment" of land squatters over residents on the waiting list for land at Walvis Bay has sparked allegations of discrimination.

Political leaders in the harbour town have called on the squatters to register their names and join the long list in the municipality.

Last week, shacks belonging to 50 land squatters were demolished at Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay.

The group illegally occupied a private plot in 2020.

The landowner, who struggled to evict the group for nearly five years, obtained a court order and eventually evicted them.

The Walvis Bay Rural Constituency Councillor, Tegako Donatus, described the manner of the eviction as inhumane.

However, he believes it is unfair to give priority to residents who illegally occupy private land while disregarding those who have applied.

"There are people who have been living in the backyard for quite a long time: 20 years for a person in a kambushu at the back of their brother's or his mother's house. They have been waiting patiently to receive land. So it's up to the municipality of Walvis Bay. There are programmes, and we were discussing those programmes."

In a petition, the Swapo Party Youth League condemned the eviction, but Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes and Erongo Governor Nathalia |Goagoses urged residents not to politicise the issue.

"You came to me one week before you were supposed to be evicted; since then, we haven't heard from this group. Other groups came, and they registered themselves. You are residing on private property as we are speaking, and it is within the law for the person to whom this plot belongs to do an eviction," said Forbes, adding that "it is inhumane; the way your shacks were broken down cannot be condoned. However, the legal process is there for eviction. Now, what I want to tell you is that you were told to establish your committee. One thing I will not tolerate is political instigation."

Governor |Goagoses cautioned that "We are not going to politicise issues of human rights; this is a human rights issue. You are going to register yourselves at the municipality. There is already a list of those who are registered at the municipality. Whenever there is available housing, we will refer to that list," she said.

The municipality has profiled over 43,000 residents living in backyard shacks. Farm 37, a new suburb on the outskirts of the harbour town, is identified as the answer for the landless residents.