Kamanjab council blocks land sale over lack of local voter’s card
Council accused of ‘tribalistic’ decision by Namibian businessman
A Namibian investor has accused the Kamanjab Village Council of discrimination and unconstitutional procedures after officials reportedly revoked his land allocation because he does not hold a Kamanjab voter’s card.
Stanley Kambonde, a businessman active in the mining sector, said he was allocated Erf 91 in Kamanjab earlier this year and paid for it after receiving a formal reservation letter.
However, he said he was later informed that his application had been declined at the instruction of the council’s chief executive officer.
“I think it was last year in December, because I'm after businesses in Kunene region, so I was looking at acquiring some property in Kamanjab,” he told Namibian Sun on Friday. “They called us to say the application forms are available, so I chose Erf 91 and happened to be the one who paid first, and so I got the reservation letter for that.”
According to Kambonde, the plot cost between N$42 000 and N$43 000, and he had already made payment.
“I got that reservation letter, and we were now looking for them to advertise in the newspaper so that the erf could be transferred into our names,” he explained.
However, the process stalled, he claimed, when new management took over the council. “There was a new CEO coming in, and every time we called for files, they didn’t want to sign the authorisation for the plots to be advertised,” he said.
On Tuesday last week, Kambonde received an email from the council requesting his bank confirmation letter to process a refund.
“They said I need to give a bank confirmation letter so that they can refund my money, because I am not a Kamanjab resident and I don’t have a voter’s card in Kamanjab. Only people with voter’s cards in Kamanjab will be considered for those allocated plots,” he said.
Council’s stance
In an email dated 29 October, the village council formally informed Kambonde that his application had been declined “as directed by the CEO”.
“The reason for the decline of your application as directed by the CEO is that you do not have a Kamanjab voter’s card, and all plots will only be allocated to residents with a Kamanjab voter’s card,” the letter read.
The correspondence, signed by property and land management clerk Tjitjita Pakarae, also requested Kambonde to provide a bank confirmation letter for a refund of payments made on Erf 198, Rotsvesting Proper, and advised him to contact CEO Seriane Mukuta for further clarity.
When contacted for comment on Friday by Namibian Sun, Mukuta said she was not responsible for the sale of land and could not comment on the matter.
“Maybe the source must tell you how he went about getting the plot, so then maybe you can talk to the person who was responsible," she said.
"I'm not dealing with the land, so he cannot refer me to you. I only carry out what the council resolved, and the procedures that will be followed when you are selling the land,” she added.
Decision explained
In correspondence seen by Namibian Sun, Pakarae informed Kambonde that the erf was advertised in March and was “open to all Namibian citizens. As with all erven sold in Kamanjab, applicants are required to make a deposit to reserve a particular plot.”
He explained that once full deposits are made, an application is submitted to council for approval.
Pakarae noted that the matter was deliberated at the ordinary council meeting held in May, with the minutes confirming the discussion.
“Council resolved, under Resolution No. 001/23/05/2025, to approve the list of all the erven submitted. After that, I prepared the council approval letters dated 6 August 2025 for the CEO's signature. However, that is when I was informed that approval letters won't be granted to applicants that do not have a Kamanjab voter's card and that those clients will be refunded.”
He concluded: “Hence, that is when I requested your bank confirmation letter for the possible refund on the deposit you have made on Erf 91, Rotsvesting Proper.”
‘Unconstitutional’ decision
Kambonde, however, maintains that the erf allocation was made “through a formal council resolution, not by the discretionary decision of the CEO”, and that any revocation must be authorised by the council itself.
In a letter addressed to Mukuta, he demanded: “A copy of the council resolution (including the minute number and date) authorising the allocation of Erf 91 to me, and any conditions attached thereto; a copy of any delegation of authority granting the CEO power to revoke or amend that allocation; confirmation that the notice and objection process required under Section 63 of the Local Authorities Act was followed; and the legal reasoning behind requiring a voter’s card in land or erf allocation.”
He further requested a meeting between his legal representative and the council to discuss the issue and said he expected a written response by Thursday, 6 November.
Kambonde has described the new requirement as unconstitutional and contrary to Namibia’s founding principles.
“In an independent Namibia, this decision infringes on my constitutional right to freely settle anywhere in the country,” he said. “Unfortunately, tribalistic provisions and directives continue to discourage investment and undermine investor confidence,” he added.
Employment hub
He underlined that his investment proposal for Kamanjab included plans to establish a processing plant that would have positioned the town as a hub for his mining operations.
“I submitted a proposal called a processing plant, and I considered Kamanjab as a hub. That was why I wanted the plot, because I’m trying to build or move some of my businesses that way,” he explained.
Kambonde had not yet received a refund by the time he spoke to Namibian Sun and said he has instead responded to the council with what he called “a strong-worded email”, while also alerting national leaders about the situation.
“I even texted minister Sankwasa because, honestly, we cannot stay in a country like this,” he said.
He said he felt deeply discouraged by Kamanjab’s actions. “... that I'm being told I can't buy or apply for land just because I don't have a voter’s card or I'm not from that area. It really doesn’t make sense.”
#NamibiaDecides2025
Stanley Kambonde, a businessman active in the mining sector, said he was allocated Erf 91 in Kamanjab earlier this year and paid for it after receiving a formal reservation letter.
However, he said he was later informed that his application had been declined at the instruction of the council’s chief executive officer.
“I think it was last year in December, because I'm after businesses in Kunene region, so I was looking at acquiring some property in Kamanjab,” he told Namibian Sun on Friday. “They called us to say the application forms are available, so I chose Erf 91 and happened to be the one who paid first, and so I got the reservation letter for that.”
According to Kambonde, the plot cost between N$42 000 and N$43 000, and he had already made payment.
“I got that reservation letter, and we were now looking for them to advertise in the newspaper so that the erf could be transferred into our names,” he explained.
However, the process stalled, he claimed, when new management took over the council. “There was a new CEO coming in, and every time we called for files, they didn’t want to sign the authorisation for the plots to be advertised,” he said.
On Tuesday last week, Kambonde received an email from the council requesting his bank confirmation letter to process a refund.
“They said I need to give a bank confirmation letter so that they can refund my money, because I am not a Kamanjab resident and I don’t have a voter’s card in Kamanjab. Only people with voter’s cards in Kamanjab will be considered for those allocated plots,” he said.
Council’s stance
In an email dated 29 October, the village council formally informed Kambonde that his application had been declined “as directed by the CEO”.
“The reason for the decline of your application as directed by the CEO is that you do not have a Kamanjab voter’s card, and all plots will only be allocated to residents with a Kamanjab voter’s card,” the letter read.
The correspondence, signed by property and land management clerk Tjitjita Pakarae, also requested Kambonde to provide a bank confirmation letter for a refund of payments made on Erf 198, Rotsvesting Proper, and advised him to contact CEO Seriane Mukuta for further clarity.
When contacted for comment on Friday by Namibian Sun, Mukuta said she was not responsible for the sale of land and could not comment on the matter.
“Maybe the source must tell you how he went about getting the plot, so then maybe you can talk to the person who was responsible," she said.
"I'm not dealing with the land, so he cannot refer me to you. I only carry out what the council resolved, and the procedures that will be followed when you are selling the land,” she added.
Decision explained
In correspondence seen by Namibian Sun, Pakarae informed Kambonde that the erf was advertised in March and was “open to all Namibian citizens. As with all erven sold in Kamanjab, applicants are required to make a deposit to reserve a particular plot.”
He explained that once full deposits are made, an application is submitted to council for approval.
Pakarae noted that the matter was deliberated at the ordinary council meeting held in May, with the minutes confirming the discussion.
“Council resolved, under Resolution No. 001/23/05/2025, to approve the list of all the erven submitted. After that, I prepared the council approval letters dated 6 August 2025 for the CEO's signature. However, that is when I was informed that approval letters won't be granted to applicants that do not have a Kamanjab voter's card and that those clients will be refunded.”
He concluded: “Hence, that is when I requested your bank confirmation letter for the possible refund on the deposit you have made on Erf 91, Rotsvesting Proper.”
‘Unconstitutional’ decision
Kambonde, however, maintains that the erf allocation was made “through a formal council resolution, not by the discretionary decision of the CEO”, and that any revocation must be authorised by the council itself.
In a letter addressed to Mukuta, he demanded: “A copy of the council resolution (including the minute number and date) authorising the allocation of Erf 91 to me, and any conditions attached thereto; a copy of any delegation of authority granting the CEO power to revoke or amend that allocation; confirmation that the notice and objection process required under Section 63 of the Local Authorities Act was followed; and the legal reasoning behind requiring a voter’s card in land or erf allocation.”
He further requested a meeting between his legal representative and the council to discuss the issue and said he expected a written response by Thursday, 6 November.
Kambonde has described the new requirement as unconstitutional and contrary to Namibia’s founding principles.
“In an independent Namibia, this decision infringes on my constitutional right to freely settle anywhere in the country,” he said. “Unfortunately, tribalistic provisions and directives continue to discourage investment and undermine investor confidence,” he added.
Employment hub
He underlined that his investment proposal for Kamanjab included plans to establish a processing plant that would have positioned the town as a hub for his mining operations.
“I submitted a proposal called a processing plant, and I considered Kamanjab as a hub. That was why I wanted the plot, because I’m trying to build or move some of my businesses that way,” he explained.
Kambonde had not yet received a refund by the time he spoke to Namibian Sun and said he has instead responded to the council with what he called “a strong-worded email”, while also alerting national leaders about the situation.
“I even texted minister Sankwasa because, honestly, we cannot stay in a country like this,” he said.
He said he felt deeply discouraged by Kamanjab’s actions. “... that I'm being told I can't buy or apply for land just because I don't have a voter’s card or I'm not from that area. It really doesn’t make sense.”
#NamibiaDecides2025
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