40 families occupy govt farm near Dordabis

About 40 families belonging to the Tsou!Homs Farmers’ Cooperative have occupied a government farm outside Dordabis together with their herd of approximately 500 livestock after years of applications for agricultural land allegedly went unanswered.

The cooperative moved onto Farm Christerine No. 259 in the Khomas region about three weeks ago with goats, sheep, cattle, pigs and chickens.

“We are here,” cooperative chairperson David Gurubeb confirmed to Namibian Sun.

The agriculture ministry has not responded to questions about the occupation or indicated whether it intends to remove the families from the property.

The cooperative represents emerging farmers, women, young people and persons with disabilities from Hoachanas in the Mariental Rural Constituency.

Members say they occupied the property after repeatedly approaching the government for land where they could continue farming, without receiving a decision.

In October 2025, members travelled from Hoachanas to Farm Schurfbeck No. 681 in the Mariental Rural Constituency to submit a petition seeking resettlement.

They arrived to find the gate closed, while agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani, Hardap governor Charles McNab and Hardap regional council chairperson Gerson Dausab were reportedly not present to receive the petition.

The cooperative said they again wrote to Zaamwani on 10 June this year, requesting her urgent intervention “after years of applications, petitions, representations and unanswered correspondence regarding access to agricultural land”.

“The cooperative and its members have repeatedly approached the responsible offices and submitted proposals for agricultural development, including the formal application dated 10 June 2026 and the unanimous resolution adopted on 7 June 2026,” the correspondence reads.

Notice given

In its 7 June resolution, the cooperative warned that its members would occupy underutilised state agricultural land if government failed to provide a positive response, an interim arrangement, or a meeting.

“If no positive response, practical interim arrangement or meeting is provided before that date, the cooperative hereby gives notice that its members intend to proceed on 10 August 2026 with a peaceful, orderly and productive occupation of suitable, underutilised state agricultural land for grazing purposes and for the agricultural activities for which assistance has repeatedly been requested.”

The cooperative sent another urgent letter to Zaamwani on 30 July, seeking her intervention.

“The cooperative cannot be expected to continually submit applications and letters without acknowledgement or without reasons or a decision being provided," it stated.

The Tsou!Homs Farmers’ Cooperative received an email this week informing it that the matter had been referred to Melania Iiputa, acting director of land reform and acting director responsible for resettlement and the implementation of regional programmes.

However, the cooperative says neither Iiputa nor officials from her office have contacted its members.

Namibian Sun’s attempts to reach Iiputa were also unsuccessful.

The minister’s office had previously informed Gurubeb by email on 25 August that the matter had been referred to the ministry’s acting executive director, Petrus-Canisius Nangolo.

Gurubeb wrote to Nangolo that same day. However, the minister’s office informed him on 29 August that it was also waiting for feedback from the executive director before Zaamwani could be consulted.

Questions sent to ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda last week about the ownership and status of Farm Christerine No. 259, the occupation and government’s intended response remain unanswered.