/ 8 July 1998

Namibian government evicts squatters

WEDNESDAY, 6.30PM:

FOLLOWING an urgent application by the Namibian Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation the Namibian High Court has ordered the eviction of 56 families who have illegally occupied 10 Government farms in the Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions.

The illegal settlers, who allegedly raised Cain on the farms they occupied in November last year, include a Deputy Director in the Local Government Ministry, teachers, a radio presenter and a governmental driver.

The havoc wreaked on the farms has forced the Lands Ministry to put resettlement plans in the regions on hold. The Ministry claims that the settlers cut farm fences to gain entry to the properties, illegally gained access to water facilities on the farms and allowed their livestock to graze on the farms.

Justice O’Linn ordered the eviction of the squatters and to arrest and detain those who disobeyed the court ruling. O’Linn has also ordered that they foot the legal costs incurred by the Ministry in taking the matter to court.

Those opposing the High Court ruling have been given until July 27 to file their opposing affidavits.

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