Africa-Press – Namibia. Windhoek rural constituency councillor Piet Adams has called for immediate government action to address the pressing issues faced by landless residents at Groot Aub.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, he outlined the challenges posed by historical land injustices and criticised the City of Windhoek for neglecting rural communities.
Adams urged authorities to focus on the broader context of ancestral land claims and generational farmworkers, who have been marginalised for decades.
“The land challenges faced by Namibians today are deeply rooted in the loss of ancestral land during colonial and apartheid eras. Many communities have lost their identity through land, and these injustices have yet to be rectified,” he said.
He expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress in implementing the recommendations of the 2019 Commission of Inquiry into the Claims of Ancestral Land Rights and Restitution.
“The report made strong recommendations, yet to date, we have seen little action,” he said.
Adams said the Khomas region has been without communal land for more than 34 years, forcing many people to live as generational farmworkers or at the mercy of private landowners.
He referred to the Dordabis community, involving 3 000 people living on a cramped 10 -hectare plot, and who must seek permission from farmowners to bury their loved ones – a service they are charged N$600 for. “The situation at Dordabis is dire, and the promises of land by the government have yet to materialise. These residents deserve better, and I am challenging the government to come clean on the rumours that farm Keerwater, recently bought by the government, is being reserved for Omaheke beneficiaries. The residents of Dordabis cannot wait any longer,” he said.
Adams also addressed the water and electricity challenges faced by residents of Groot Aub.
“Some community members at Groot Aub have been without water for two years.
Previously, water was available every second day, but now the situation is unbearable.
“These are human beings, not animals, and water is a basic right,” he said. He criticised the City of Windhoek for not taking action.
Adams said his office had been in talks with NamPower, which has expressed the willingness to provide electricity to the residents of Groot Aub.
However, the City of Windhoek has stalled the process, he said.
“The infrastructure is there, but the City is blocking progress,” he said. Adams called for the government to review resettlement criteria and to prioritise communities like those at Dordabis, Stinkwater, and Groot Aub. The City of Windhoek could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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