Villagers against oshana sale
A village headwoman in the Omusati Region says she won''t sell her community''s lifeline despite pressure from well-known business people.
A number of people at Okaku No. 3 village in the Oshikuku area of the Omusati Region are against the sale of the village''s only oshana, saying that it is the heartbeat of the village and it should not be for sale.
Sources at the village who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity expressed alarm over a rumour that well-known business people are interested in buying the only oshana in the area, which benefits hundreds of villagers when it comes to grazing and trapping floodwater.
One of them said a number of business people had asked villagers to convince the headwoman of the village, Eveline Nangolo, to sell the oshana, which stretches from the Eesiku neEsiku cuca shops to the Ehafo cuca shops.
The source said the oshana benefits farmers from Okaku No. 3, as well as Iipumbu, Oshikuku and Oshuungu villages, as thousands of animals graze in the oshana when it''s not full of water.
The source asked what would happen during the annual Efundja flood if somebody built in the oshana. If the floodwater could not flow into the oshana, it would flood the villages, leaving people homeless, the source said.
“People must learn to think about others, most importantly about the future generations.
“Whatever those that are influencing the headwoman were promised by the business people, it is not for the [benefit of the] community but for themselves and it is pure corruption and should not be allowed in our village,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Nangolo confirmed that she had been approached by some villagers trying to convince her to sell the land to business people. But she said that would not happen, as it would not be in the interest of the community.
She said the intermediaries promised that the business people would bring development to the village but she would not approve such initiatives at the expense of the people she serves.
“When I tell them I have to discuss it with my people before deciding on development projects, they persist and say that I have the power to make the decision but I tell them I only have the power when I talk to my people first,” she said.
Nangolo said all her decisions are made after consultation with community members at meetings and therefore individuals cannot make her sell land just like that without the people''s input.
She said the business people never made an effort to communicate with her directly about their plans, and stressed that there was no reason that would convince her to sell that piece of land.
“I will have to set up a meeting and talk to my people about it but as it stands my people are not in favour of the sale of that land and I have to listen to them. I know we need development in our villages but people should not suffer,” she said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Sources at the village who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity expressed alarm over a rumour that well-known business people are interested in buying the only oshana in the area, which benefits hundreds of villagers when it comes to grazing and trapping floodwater.
One of them said a number of business people had asked villagers to convince the headwoman of the village, Eveline Nangolo, to sell the oshana, which stretches from the Eesiku neEsiku cuca shops to the Ehafo cuca shops.
The source said the oshana benefits farmers from Okaku No. 3, as well as Iipumbu, Oshikuku and Oshuungu villages, as thousands of animals graze in the oshana when it''s not full of water.
The source asked what would happen during the annual Efundja flood if somebody built in the oshana. If the floodwater could not flow into the oshana, it would flood the villages, leaving people homeless, the source said.
“People must learn to think about others, most importantly about the future generations.
“Whatever those that are influencing the headwoman were promised by the business people, it is not for the [benefit of the] community but for themselves and it is pure corruption and should not be allowed in our village,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Nangolo confirmed that she had been approached by some villagers trying to convince her to sell the land to business people. But she said that would not happen, as it would not be in the interest of the community.
She said the intermediaries promised that the business people would bring development to the village but she would not approve such initiatives at the expense of the people she serves.
“When I tell them I have to discuss it with my people before deciding on development projects, they persist and say that I have the power to make the decision but I tell them I only have the power when I talk to my people first,” she said.
Nangolo said all her decisions are made after consultation with community members at meetings and therefore individuals cannot make her sell land just like that without the people''s input.
She said the business people never made an effort to communicate with her directly about their plans, and stressed that there was no reason that would convince her to sell that piece of land.
“I will have to set up a meeting and talk to my people about it but as it stands my people are not in favour of the sale of that land and I have to listen to them. I know we need development in our villages but people should not suffer,” she said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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