Illegal occupation of land continues unabated in Oshana
The Oshana Communal Land Board has been inundated with reports of illegal allocation and occupation of communal land.
According to the agriculture and land reform ministry, this has been occurring at strategic points, periphery areas of towns and, more specifically, surroundings areas between Oshakati and Ondangwa.
“The ministry would like to inform the public that the land within town layouts falls within the jurisdictions of the respective town councils," executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said.
She said, similarly, it is also important for the public to take note that communal land cannot be sold as freehold land to any person, in accordance with the Communal Land Reform Act.
“Recently, it has emerged that there are some community members in the areas surrounding Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa as well as areas/villages alongside the B1 road between Ongwediva and Ondangwa who are involved in illegal land deals.”
Nghituwamata said as a result, several individuals have fallen victim to such illegal actions.
"The ministry wishes to inform Namibians, especially the people living in the communal areas, to follow the prescribed procedures to secure their customary land rights under the provisions of the Act," she said.
The procedure includes identifying a portion of land and its boundaries with the village headman or headwoman of the respective traditional authority.
After that, a form must be filled in and a N$25 application fee paid to the respective traditional authority, whereafter the ministry will verify and map the identified land parcel.
Then, a seven-day notice period follows, which will allow any objections from community members to be recorded. Only after this will the ratification of the application will be done by the respective communal land board to approve and register the land right.
“If the application is approved, the customary land right certificate shall be issued to the respective traditional authority and the applicant is notified by the traditional authority and they must pay a N$50 certificate fee to the traditional authority upon collection of the land right certificate," Nghituwamata said.
The public is therefore urged to guard against illegal land deals, and should report such illegal activities in the Oshana Region to the ministry.
According to the agriculture and land reform ministry, this has been occurring at strategic points, periphery areas of towns and, more specifically, surroundings areas between Oshakati and Ondangwa.
“The ministry would like to inform the public that the land within town layouts falls within the jurisdictions of the respective town councils," executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said.
She said, similarly, it is also important for the public to take note that communal land cannot be sold as freehold land to any person, in accordance with the Communal Land Reform Act.
“Recently, it has emerged that there are some community members in the areas surrounding Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa as well as areas/villages alongside the B1 road between Ongwediva and Ondangwa who are involved in illegal land deals.”
Nghituwamata said as a result, several individuals have fallen victim to such illegal actions.
"The ministry wishes to inform Namibians, especially the people living in the communal areas, to follow the prescribed procedures to secure their customary land rights under the provisions of the Act," she said.
The procedure includes identifying a portion of land and its boundaries with the village headman or headwoman of the respective traditional authority.
After that, a form must be filled in and a N$25 application fee paid to the respective traditional authority, whereafter the ministry will verify and map the identified land parcel.
Then, a seven-day notice period follows, which will allow any objections from community members to be recorded. Only after this will the ratification of the application will be done by the respective communal land board to approve and register the land right.
“If the application is approved, the customary land right certificate shall be issued to the respective traditional authority and the applicant is notified by the traditional authority and they must pay a N$50 certificate fee to the traditional authority upon collection of the land right certificate," Nghituwamata said.
The public is therefore urged to guard against illegal land deals, and should report such illegal activities in the Oshana Region to the ministry.
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