San voices 'ignored'
The N‡Jaqna Conservancy has threatened to alert European and German news agencies about how European-funded projects are contravening the expressed wishes of indigenous people.
The committee of the N‡Jaqna Conservancy says it rejects a proposal for nine exclusive livestock farming units proposed by the Ministry of Land Reform in the area.
The chairperson of the committee, Sarah Zungu, said she was shocked to have been presented with a map of the proposed farming units after the committee had for years been vocal in its rejection of the proposal and supported it with documentation.
Zungu last week said the person who signed off the proposal was merely an ordinary member of the conservancy committee and not the chairperson or vice-chairperson, as is required by the conservancy's constitution.
“The conservancy refuses to sign off on a map which it strongly opposes and to which objections have been made in writing and at several previous meetings with the Ministry of Land Reform,” Zungu said in a statement, and added that the conservancy's voice was repeatedly ignored.
The map was produced by Namibia Premier Solutions, funded by the European Union and the German development bank, KfW.
Zungu said the position of the conservancy was clear and yet the consultants – “or those behind them” - were continuously ignoring its “clear and direct opposition” to the map.
“We want to go on record and say no to this plan and will not change our minds. If you go further we will take this to the German and European press to let them know that EU- and German-funded projects are contravening the expressed wishes of the indigenous people of Namibia,” Zungu said.
She stressed that the Namibian government, which had promulgated the N‡Jaqna Conservancy, now appeared to be hell-bent on turning the area, or a large part of it, into a farm.
“The conservancy was approved so that we can protect our natural resources and so that our children can have a future. If a farm is to be established in the conservancy, how will it impact on wildlife and the movement thereof? We have a contract with hunters [for sustainable hunting],” Zungu said.
She said the funds allocated to establish the exclusive livestock farming areas should instead be channelled into projects that would directly support the local San community, such as assistance in their quest to get rid of illegal fencing and settlement.
She said the regional land board had yet to act on a High Court order made in 2016 to ensure that all illegal fences were removed.
“There appears to be a systematic disregard for the San in this area even when the courts of this land have ruled that we are right and the authorities must take action.
“They are failing us but we will not rest and we will continue to pursue our rights even if this means taking the land board and the traditional authority to court for contempt. We are ready to do this,” Zungu said.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The chairperson of the committee, Sarah Zungu, said she was shocked to have been presented with a map of the proposed farming units after the committee had for years been vocal in its rejection of the proposal and supported it with documentation.
Zungu last week said the person who signed off the proposal was merely an ordinary member of the conservancy committee and not the chairperson or vice-chairperson, as is required by the conservancy's constitution.
“The conservancy refuses to sign off on a map which it strongly opposes and to which objections have been made in writing and at several previous meetings with the Ministry of Land Reform,” Zungu said in a statement, and added that the conservancy's voice was repeatedly ignored.
The map was produced by Namibia Premier Solutions, funded by the European Union and the German development bank, KfW.
Zungu said the position of the conservancy was clear and yet the consultants – “or those behind them” - were continuously ignoring its “clear and direct opposition” to the map.
“We want to go on record and say no to this plan and will not change our minds. If you go further we will take this to the German and European press to let them know that EU- and German-funded projects are contravening the expressed wishes of the indigenous people of Namibia,” Zungu said.
She stressed that the Namibian government, which had promulgated the N‡Jaqna Conservancy, now appeared to be hell-bent on turning the area, or a large part of it, into a farm.
“The conservancy was approved so that we can protect our natural resources and so that our children can have a future. If a farm is to be established in the conservancy, how will it impact on wildlife and the movement thereof? We have a contract with hunters [for sustainable hunting],” Zungu said.
She said the funds allocated to establish the exclusive livestock farming areas should instead be channelled into projects that would directly support the local San community, such as assistance in their quest to get rid of illegal fencing and settlement.
She said the regional land board had yet to act on a High Court order made in 2016 to ensure that all illegal fences were removed.
“There appears to be a systematic disregard for the San in this area even when the courts of this land have ruled that we are right and the authorities must take action.
“They are failing us but we will not rest and we will continue to pursue our rights even if this means taking the land board and the traditional authority to court for contempt. We are ready to do this,” Zungu said.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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