Small-scale farmers at Camp Five are devastated after the Otjiwarongo Municipality removed fencing from their garden and set it on fire.

Good rains received in Otjiwarongo over the past few days had farmers optimistic that in no time they would reap what they sowed.

But farmers at Camp Five had their hopes dashed after the municipality burned down their garden fencing, which was made out of bushes to protect their produce from domestic animals.

The farmers appealed for at least a month or two before the municipality cleared the land in order to harvest their crops, which include maize and beans.

Otijiwarongo Mayor Gottlieb Shivute says farmers at Camp Five were already notified in September last year not to fence off or plow on the land, which is earmarked for development purposes.

"This process has started off with our technical team clearing up the area, then finding the gardeners erecting gardens and fencing it off with bushes, which agitates the officials to take that route, demolishing the fences that were put up by the gardeners."

Camp Five is earmarked for extensions 26, 27, and 28, which together are expected to accommodate about 2,000 plots.

The municipality has a waiting list of 4,702 plots.

Eviction of those occupying municipal land for unapproved farming or dwelling purposes will continue, the municipality says.