Residents of Divundu Village in the Kavango East Region who were relocated by the settlement committee and the council to pave the way for development are at loggerheads with the council over the non-payment of compensation fees.

The residents say they are still waiting to be compensated seven years after the relocation process started in 2014.

The group of about thirteen individuals gave up their land to the Divundu Village Council to allow it to carry out its envisaged developmental projects.

Despite the Divundu Village Council having signed compensation agreements with the affected residents for all their crop fields and structures, seven years have since passed with nothing to that effect.

The residents say they are affected by the relocation as they are not provided with basic services at the places where they have been moved and they are now forced to travel long distances to access them.

The Divundu Village Council said it was fully aware of the outstanding compensation and is now busy with due diligence on the matter. Its Chief Executive Officer, Athanasius Maghumbo, says the process involves the identification of qualifying individuals for compensation. 

Maghumbo noted that compensation will only be given to individuals whose land has been already utilised for development purposes by the council and to people who occupy or cultivate land that is earmarked for development.

He urged the residents to exercise patience while the council is busy compiling the priority list, and thereafter compensation will be affected.