Brigitte Weidlich
17 November 2008
A GROUP of 300 Hai//om San people received two farms near the Etosha national park on Saturday, "so that they have a place they can call home and to restore their dignity", as Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila said.
The adjacent farms Seringkop and Koppies are close to the Okaukuejo resort in Etosha, where the Hai//om - the largest of the marginalised San communities - used to live for centuries and which they regard as their ancestral land.
Etosha was declared a game reserve in 1907 under German colonial rule, but the Hai//om remained there until they were evicted some 50 years ago by the South African apartheid regime.
"No alcohol will be allowed here and no shebeens may be set up - if you want to get drunk, do so outside the farm boundaries," Dr Amathila said.
The resettlement of the 78 Hai//om families was voluntary and they were transported there two weeks ago from Outjo, Otjiwarongo and surrounding farms.
Those who live at Okaukuejo in the park did not want to relocate.
"They say they will wait until Etosha becomes their own, but that will never be, Etosha is there for all to benefit (through tourism)," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
"We have already measured 78 individual plots for them to use productively.
Make the best use of this opportunity, the management plan is in place, so grab this chance with both hands and for the time being I remain in charge of this project," Dr Amathila urged.
She added that the community should not sign any tourism contract with joint-venture partners without Government blessing.
"There are many out there who are just waiting for an opportunity to get into this and promising you the earth.
I already heard of a 20 per cent ownership in a tourism lodge, that is not good enough, you will just become the servants at the lodge and work as cleaners without any benefit or profit sharing.
We will not allow it," she said firmly.
According to Gerson Kamatuka, Deputy Director for Special Projects in Amathila's office, the resettled families would soon start to build their own houses.
"At the moment they live in army tents, but not for long.
In the past two weeks we have given intensive training, as part of the land will be used for gardens and livestock farming, while live game will be introduced to other parts so there is a game camp where tourism activities will take place."
Kamatuka added that several committees had been set up since the arrival of the Hai//om beneficiaries.
"There is a livestock committee, one for crop production, for wildlife and one for security - the latter will work closely with the Police at Outjo."
A nurse will care for the community and a mobile clinic will visit regularly.
Government has bought two more farms bordering on Etosha for the Hai//om and wants to help set up tourism ventures for them to earn an income.
Eventually, the border fences to Etosha will be removed to make the park bigger and allow the Hai//om access to their former ancestral home.
Deputy Environment and Tourism Minister Leon Jooste said last year's Etosha centenary celebrations were partly sad because of the Hai//om history.
"We want to apologise for things done in the past but today, 101 years later, we see the completion of a cycle with land taken away being returned now and the situation rectified.
Use it as a tool for economic empowerment, it will not be easy, the ministry will guide you with wildlife and the tourism sector."
Kunene Regional Governor Dudu Murorua said the marginalisation of the San should stop.
"Not only the colonisers were guilty of this and regarding them as third-class people, but also us, the blacks in Namibia, who regard the San as nothing," Murorua stated.
Hai//om Chief David Khamuxab now lives in the house of the former farm owner.
Although not accepted by the Hai//om majority, he was officially recognised as traditional leader by Government under controversial circumstances, which led to deep division in the community.
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