Survival of the fittest for Ovazemba on Otji outskirts

For a group of Ovazemba families living on the outskirts of Otjiwarongo, survival is a daily struggle shaped by hunger, water scarcity, unemployment and inadequate shelter.

With limited means to support themselves, the families rely on what little they can afford while trying to provide for their children and improve their living conditions.

“We eat spinach and pap almost every day because that is what we can afford,” a resident told Namibian Sun last week.

For parents in the settlement, securing enough food remains a persistent challenge. With no reliable source of income, families must stretch their limited resources to meet their daily needs, often with little certainty about where their next meal will come from.

Water is another expense that weighs heavily on their circumstances. Residents pay between N$3 and N$5 for approximately 10 litres of water supplied through an arrangement involving a person who holds a tender to provide it.

“We need water every day, but when you have no money, even buying water becomes a problem,” the resident said.

The shortage of money makes it difficult for families to meet basic needs, including drinking water, cooking and washing. When there is no work available, finding money for these necessities becomes even harder.

Their living conditions reflect the challenges they face. The families occupy makeshift huts covered with plastic sheeting to prevent rainwater from entering their shelters. Although the plastic provides some protection, the structures are not proper houses, and residents must make do with the materials available to them.

“We try to cover our huts properly with plastic so that when it rains, the water does not get inside. We do what we can with what we have,” the resident said.

Despite these conditions, residents continue to look for ways to support their families. Some seek temporary employment on nearby farms, while others travel into Otjiwarongo to look for work, including jobs that pay as little as N$100 per task, simply to put food on the table.

Searching for a better tomorrow

For the resident who spoke to Namibian Sun, moving from Opuwo to Otjiwarongo was an attempt to find better opportunities and improve his family's circumstances.

He said the family had moved in search of better rainfall, hoping that improved conditions would offer a more secure future. Although the rains can be good at times, the family continues to struggle to make ends meet.

“I am a father of three. At least if my children can have hope of going to school one day, I will be more than delighted. As for us, we are only here to keep our family afloat,” he said.

He has spent considerable time in Otjiwarongo, working at different car washes and taking whatever opportunities he can find to earn an income.

However, the work has not brought the stability he had hoped for, and meeting the family's basic needs remains difficult.

“We came here hoping that life would be better, but things have not worked out the way we expected. We are still struggling to survive,” he said.

Land occupation

The families have settled on plots on the outskirts of Otjiwarongo in the hope that their circumstances will eventually receive attention.

A resident acknowledged that the group understands that land occupation is governed by laws, but said they had occupied the land while hoping their situation might eventually lead to assistance.

The settlement lacks proper structures and the basic services needed to improve residents' living conditions.

“We know there are laws, but we came here hoping that one day someone would hear our situation and that we might get help,” he said.

“We go to different offices asking for help, but we are sent from one place to another. We do not know where else to go,” the resident said.

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