The Tsumkwe settlement is home to about 600 households with more than 2,000 residents. However, only 95 residents hold land lease agreements with the council. 

A local businesswoman told NBC News that she has been denied access to a portion of land she previously occupied.

54-year-old Stephenia Muhomeki said she received the land from the Ju|Hoansi Traditional Authority before Tsumkwe was proclaimed a settlement.

"In 2011, when I came to hand in the application for the land at the Tsumkwe settlement office, the chief control officer told me that they cannot give me the lease agreements because the land where I stay is not surveyed; just stay, and we will give the lease agreement after the land is surveyed."

She said that in 2024, a portion of her erf was allocated to other residents.

After the final decision of the Settlement Development Committee,  Muhomeki said she was not engaged and later received a dispute letter informing her that the land had been handed to a new tenant who had been issued a lease.

She is now adamant to continue to pursue the matter and hopes the regional council will review the case.

Tsumkwe Constituency Councillor Johannes Hausiku said the case was reviewed by the Management Committee.

"It was sent to the management committee, and when we checked through applications as the management committee, we realised there was a problem. Then they sent the team from the regional office to come and investigate this case. They came to investigate, Ms Stephanie claimed that she received the land from the traditional authority."

Huasiku said Muhomeki was unable to produce the original letter from the Traditional Authority but submitted a recent letter confirming that the Authority recognises her claim to the land before Tsumkwe became a settlement.