Onandjaba settlement residents, in the Okalongo Constituency of Omusati Region, have urged President Hage Geingob to intervene in the alleged illegal land deals they say are taking place in the area.
They are also petitioning the President for the immediate removal of Onandjaba settlement control officer Amandus Kandowa, whom they are accusing of allegedly selling plots illegally.
They are further implicating businessman Antonius Lungameni in these alleged transactions who, when contacted yesterday, confirmed that he has two plots in the settlement.
Lungameni said he does not sell plots to people as he only sits on the Settlement Development Committee (SDC) on behalf of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Okalango branch chairman when he cannot attend the meetings.
They are also calling for the Onandjaba settlement to be proclaimed a village, so it can have a village council, among a long list of demands they want Geingob to look at.
It is also alleged that John Nauta, the personal assistant of Founding President Sam Nujoma has been allocated 18 plots, which the group says must be returned to the State, and that he should only be allocated one plot.
Contacted for comment yesterday Nauta said he does not own a plot in Okalongo but said he applied for a piece of land and it was not approved.
He further said his lawyers are currently dealing with the issue and he could not provide more information to the media.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I am instructed by my lawyer to go for legal action,” he said.
The petition was handed over to the office of Omusati Region Governor in Outapi by Okalongo-Based Development Community Committee secretary, Jordaan Thomas.
Prior to the petition handover, the demonstrations started off at the Onanjaba settlement, where they marched to the settlement office and then to the councillor’s office, before heading to Outapi in convoy.
When contacted for comment, Kandowa said tribalism is at the centre of the demonstrations, adding that the group spearheading the demonstrations refers to fellow Namibians as foreigners, because they are not from Okalongo.
Regarding the allegations of illegal plot allocations, Kandowa rubbished these claims, saying they hold no water.
When asked whether he is aware of any individual who received multiple plots, Kandowa said Thomas, who is at the forefront of the demonstrations, is one of those who received more than one plot for his veteran’s project.
He said he is not entitled to allocate land, saying this was political decision made by the regional council, and he only does the administrative work.
Earlier, the petition was accepted by Jason Amutenya, the Control Administrative Officer in the Office of the Regional Governor, after it was read aloud by Thomas.
Thomas explained the reason why they are seeking direct intervention from Geingob, is because their numerous attempts to get assistance at regional level have not been fruitful.
Concerns raised in the petition surround the issues of illegal dubious land dealings, officials serving on multiple statutory bodies, selective plot allocations, issues of the dumpsite causing health problems and the relocation of people to settlements from flood-prone areas, to mention a few.
“At this point in time, this community is hereby requesting your office to drastically look into these critical issues, as a matter of urgency.
“In the spirit of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, the Onandjaba settlement community is humbly requesting your good office to set up a committee/commission of enquiry,” Geingob was urged in the petition.
The group said they expect a response after 30 working days.
KENYA KAMBOWE