San community accuses Tsumkwe chief of land betrayal
Residents claim Chief Arnold has ignored their welfare, secretly signing away ancestral lands since 2013.
The !Kung San community in Tsumkwe West, Namibia, has accused their leader, Chief Ilony Arnold, of abandoning her duties and betraying their ancestral lands. Community members, speaking through spokesperson Nandu Ndumba, stated they are discriminated against and stripped of natural resources, with the unresolved crisis building since 2013.
Ndumba alleged that Chief Arnold and her councillors do not represent the people, have abandoned customary law, and are managing land for private benefit, threatening the community's indigenous way of life and culture. They also claim wealthy farmers guard illegal camps with firearms, posing a threat to their lives.
The community also reported that commercial farmers' cattle put immense pressure on their water infrastructure, breaking boreholes installed by the Directorate of Rural Water Supply. Chief Arnold has allegedly failed to hold community meetings for nearly 11 years, appointing relatives and councillors who act as land agents accepting bribes.
Why it mattersThe !Kung San community in Tsumkwe West faces discrimination, loss of ancestral lands, and denial of access to natural resources vital for their income and health.