A violent land dispute in Namibia's Otjase village has resulted in the deaths of two men, Mandume Musengua, 48, and Maximilian Katjimune, 40. According to Otjozondjupa senior inspector Maureen Mbeha, the two were allegedly attacked by a group of people following a dispute over communal grazing land. The police have since arrested five suspects in connection with the deaths and they were expected to appear before the Okakarara Magistrate’s Court.
The incident has brought communal land disputes and the handling of grazing rights under scrutiny. Human rights activist Jarii Ua Tjatindi believes that traditional authorities need to be equipped to handle complex land disputes. He suggests that these authorities should not be stripped of their responsibility to administer communal land but should be capacitated to handle disputes lawfully and fairly.
Ua Tjatindi notes that some traditional authorities lack the necessary understanding of land administration, customary law, and legal procedures. This, he believes, often leads to disputes being handled unlawfully and unfairly. As a result, he calls for the capacitating of traditional authorities to ensure that land disputes are resolved in a fair and lawful manner.
Traditional councillor for the Ovaherero Traditional Authority in the Aminuis constituency, Freddie Koujou, agrees that greed and the fencing off of communal grazing land are major causes of disputes in communities. He explains that some individuals who are financially stronger tend to fence off or benefit more from communal land setups. This, he believes, often leads to conflicts over land.
Koujou also notes that some people who fence off communal land rent it out to individuals who are not from the affected communities. He calls for government outreach programmes to educate communities about land rights and lawful procedures for resolving disputes. He advises communities not to take the law into their own hands.
A farmer in the area, Ben Kandanga, reports that Okakarara residents petitioned outside the Okakarara Magistrate’s Court against bail for the suspects. He explains that the two victims were allegedly moving cattle into a camp when a group of people followed them. The dispute was reportedly due to be discussed at the traditional authority’s office, but the meeting had not yet taken place.
The incident highlights the need for effective land dispute resolution mechanisms in Namibia. The government and traditional authorities must work together to address the root causes of these disputes and ensure that land is administered fairly and lawfully. The five suspects arrested in connection with the deaths of Musengua and Katjimune will appear in court to face charges.
Key points
- Five suspects arrested in connection with the deaths of two men in a land dispute in Namibia's Otjase village.
- Traditional authorities need to be equipped to handle complex land disputes, says human rights activist.
- Greed and fencing off of communal grazing land major causes of disputes in communities.
