Unresolved fencing of grazing land at Nkandi West Village in the Kavango West Region continues to cause tension.

Community members are agitated, claiming that their grievances have not been addressed. They said an unknown individual occupied the land last year, but attempts to stop the development in May failed.

In April this year, villagers decided to remove the fences, after which the matter was taken to the community court last month.

While awaiting a ruling, residents said borehole-drilling trucks arrived on the land on 26 August, prompting them to intervene again.

Local Development Committee Chairperson for Nkandi West, Siviro Titus, said the community had asked those involved not to develop the land while it gathered evidence.

“We asked them not to develop the land while we gathered evidence. At first, they started clearing the land, but the person who sent them also refused to come and meet us. So, we decided to take the matter to the traditional authority because we could not reach an understanding.”

Resident Levi Sirume said the community was concerned that the work continued despite its objections.

“This is what is troubling us because we do not know where they got the authority. When we tell them to stop, and they continue, we wonder where they get the right to do so.”

Another resident, Lukas Kotokeni, said there was confusion about the identity of the person who reported the alleged damage to the fence and the person listed as the owner of the land.

“The person who reported us for damaging the fence is someone else, while the person listed in the documents as the owner of the land is a different person. We have not even seen that person.”

The residents fear that they will lose critical grazing land if the area is allocated to someone else.

Nkandi West Headman Gedion Ndjamba called for unity and fairness, saying the individual should follow the proper procedures and consult the relevant traditional leaders.

“What we want is unity and fairness, just like everyone else. Let the person follow the right procedures and consult the leaders. We should establish whether the person is here to live among us or whether they intend to separate us. We do not want land to be fenced off here because we have seen how other villages are struggling with grazing land, and their livestock are suffering.”

The community is calling on the relevant authorities to intervene.

Acting Chairperson of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority Albertina Siteketa said the individual had only been granted permission to drill a borehole because of water scarcity, and not to fence off the land.

The traditional authority said the dispute would be resolved through the proper traditional and legal processes, and urged residents to remain calm.