Neudamm squatters seek resettlement

DISGRUNTLED former workers of the University of Namibia's Neudamm Agriculture College on Saturday called on government to resettle them.

The former employees have been living at the college farm for more than four decades where they raised children and grandchildren, while those who died were also buried there. Neudamm, situated at Farm 63m was set up in 1928. A hostel and classrooms were constructed in 1938, employing kitchen staff, security guards, cleaners and others. In 2013, most of the members of the community were told to leave the farm as they no longer worked there. Unam management had resolved in 2012 that no more burials would be allowed at the college, that no transport would be provided for the schoolchildren, no water or electricity would be provided to the former workers, and that the pre-primary and primary schools be shut down. The former workers were also forbidden from collecting wood on the farm, and the gates which provided a shortcut to the main roads were locked. On Saturday, the former workers, of whom most are elderly, met the /Khomanin Traditional Authority at the college and expressed their frustrations. Thelma Hoxobes (52), Christina Aoses (68), Hendrik Ferreira Martin (58) and Stephanus April (50), among others, expressed disgust at Unam's decisions. They complained that they are no longer allowed to buy basic necessities like food, meat and milk from the college's shop, and this has made it difficult for the elders to travel to Windhoek to get these basis necessities. According to them, they are also forced to get water from nearby farms. April said he was born and raised at the college, where his parents worked in the kitchen. He said at the time, his parents and grandparents lived in shacks before the new concrete houses were built for staff members. He said he was transported to school on the college bus, but now their children are not allowed to use the bus anymore.