Livestock herders as well as the communities surrounding Okashana kUukongo waNakale held a demonstration at Omuthiya over the illegal fencing off of grazing land.

The demonstrators are angered by large hectares of land that are fenced off at Okashana KUukongo waNehale, depriving livestock farmers of insufficient grazing for their livestock.

Demonstrators say the illegal fencing off and occupation of large tracts of grazing land in the area leaves small-scale farmers with little grazing for their livestock.

They said Okashana KUukongo waNakale is an open area where people have been grazing for many decades.

Of late, however, the area has been invaded and fenced off by individuals, including politicians, without the approval of either King Nehale Conservancy management, the Communal Land Board, the farmers and headmen, or the headwomen of villages surrounding the area.

The demonstrators are calling on Oshikoto Governor Penda Ya Ndakolo and the Oshikoto Land Board to remove all illegal fences before the 13th of this month. 

Failure to do that, protestors threatened to forcefully remove all the illegal fences.

The demonstrators were, however, disappointed that the governor sent a representative to receive their petition on his behalf despite being around at the time.

The petition was received by the Control Administrative Officer in the Office of the Governor, Nicco Aipumbu, who told our news team that the governor was busy and he would forward it to relevant authorities.

The governor was also not reachable when the nbc News team attempted to get a comment from him.