In the Omaheke Region, farming is part of everyday life. For many people here, especially in rural communities, livestock farming is not just a business. It is how families earn an income, put food on the table and support their households. 

Omaheke is known as Namibia's "cattle country", with agriculture remaining an important part of the region's economy. But for some farmers, finding land to continue doing what they know best remains a challenge. 

For Lesley Pienaar, living in Gobabis has not stopped him from farming. Despite being based in town, Pienaar currently keeps more than 200 animals. For him, farming is not something he can simply walk away from. Pienaar says the animals are his source of income and help him put food on the table for his family. But there is one major challenge, land. 

"I like farming. I grew up with farming, but we don't have farmland. We have tried for resettlements, but we don't get land. That's how I ended up farming in Gobabis. The piece of land that my father has in Blouberg – it's not enough for us. We are seven brothers, and all of us are in farming, that is, 400 or 300 hectares of land. So you have to make a way of living for yourself. So that's how I end up farming in Gobabis. I've got cattle; at some plot of municipality, I drop them off, then I pick them up, I take them, and I sell them. That's how I've been rotating. So we need resettlement land, so we cannot farm in town." 

While farming remains an important livelihood for many residents, the Gobabis Municipality says keeping animals within the town is against local authority regulations. However, the municipality acknowledges that enforcing the law has its own challenges, with engagements now underway to find a solution. 

"Animals in town is a very big problem in Gobabis and the municipality. We all know that, as per the Local Authority Act in town laws, animals are not allowed in local authority areas. But then, to enforce these laws also, very strictly, or to the book, also brings some challenges and uprisings. We know that the political office, the highest political officers, like the governor's office, is also on board to try and find a solution," stressed Public Relations Officer of the Gobabis Municipality, Frederick Ueitele