It is about land - and justice

DISGRUNTLED NATIVE WRITES:

Yes, it is true that the liberation struggle was about land, oppression and racial discrimination etc.

The United Nations were petitioned from the late 50's to early 60's and they intervened and freed Namibia, through UN supervised democratic elections, although not fair at all. All the above mentioned political discrepancies still persist in independent Namibia of nowadays.

The different elites continue to benefit in Namibia in different ways, through different channels from the hands of different hegemonic autocrats. The new order is black against black discrimination, favouritism, regionalism and nepotism to benefit a few elite in all spheres of administration, be it at national, regional, local authority and/or traditional authority levels and any one entrusted with little responsibility and resources are corrupt.

At a community meeting held at Vredefontein, Vaalgras on the 9th of April 2015, traditional councillor Aloysius Boois put it explicitly and in no uncertain terms that the members of the community can forget about using Farm Heichas for farming purposes, as it is earmarked for the Women's League projects, an apparent Gardening Project and the NGSIP Goat Scheme only. The farm was initially requested by the deposed Vaalgras traditional leadership to expand the communal farming land of Vaalgras. They are exactly busy with the same tricks that has led to Hon. Swartbooi's recalling and subsequent resignation from Swapo. They should look at and fight the issues leading to these dilemmas and not target individuals.



SWARTBOOI'S EXAMPLE

I fail to understand and I do not know what is peculiar about the Vaalgras case? Or is it because of being a loyal Swapo, which is nonsense. People should follow in Hon. Swartbooi's footsteps and start speaking out against injustices, discrimination, corruption and inequities.

I cannot forget our first President, Dr. Sam Nujoma's words about the second struggle, which is about economic development "in which everybody wants to be a winner”.

Just look at how the Vaalgras Traditional Authority handled the NGSIP Goat Scheme. The goats were returned voluntarily, confiscated forcefully and some requested for extension during 2016, but the distribution thereof to the next beneficiaries was just halted without any explanation. There is no clarity as to how many are left over there and to who they belong. The goats are being sold, but no one knows where the proceeds are going?

Hon. Swartbooi, who was the former //Kharas Regional Governor negotiated the goat scheme and he said the goats should not be rotated, but the deposed chief's right-hand autocrat decided that they have final say in Vaalgras and that the goats should be rotated. It is mind- boggling, virulent and very sinister that they have decided secretly to give some farming rights to two immediate relatives of the deposed chief at Farm Heichas.

It is disheartening that these leaders do not stand firm on their resolutions. Today something is working like this and tomorrow it is again working the other way around.



NO MORE

We cannot continue like that, we cannot be led by a small coterie through vexatious and coercive tactics. Don't forget that we are sharing the same language, tradition and cultures with Swartbooi and are enduring the same economic hardships with him and we admit that he acts on our behalf.

I said on numerous occasions that Hon. Tom Alweendo, Hon. Kameeta and H.E. the President Hage Geingob should intervene, simply because they are wasting the time during which this impoverished, neglected and underdeveloped rural settlement should have been developed and brought into the main economic stream.

It is excellent that the deposed leaders have put in farmers from Vaalgras at Heichas as per initial request to the Lands Ministry, but we question the criteria used to resettle them, the method and the secretiveness of the whole exercise, that is all. It should have been done in an open, fair and transparent manner for all to compete.

Of late, they have removed the community's ram camp at Vredefontein, which is currently a serious bone of contention. Now the question is, why did not they give first priority to these farmers to be resettled at Heichas?

One is sitting with all your fingers in your hair with more questions than answers, as there is no honest person to answer your legitimate and genuine concerns.