Over 50 residents of the single quarter houses at Otjiwarongo on Wednesday staged a peaceful demonstration at the town, where they expressed unhappiness over the municipality’s plans to relocate them to the newly proclaimed Camp Five reception area.
The residents started their street march in Orwetoveni, along Dr Libertina Amadhila Street, ending at the municipality’s head office in town, where they handed over a petition to Otjiwarongo Mayor, Gottlieb Shivute.
In their petition, the residents stated that the new township where the municipality wants to place them is situated too far from town.
Camp Five is about 10 kilometres southeast of Otjiwarongo, where over 3 000 residential plots are planned for the residents.
“Therefore mayor, we will only move to that area once the municipality channels services there such water, street roads, sanitation and electricity,” they said.
They then called on Shivute to resign from his position should he continue to push for any relocation to a place with no services, saying even though the single quarters are overcrowded, at least they can switch electricity on and get water to drink inside their houses.
Shivute, upon receiving their petition, said the municipality in May this year already provided answers to the residents of the single quarters, adding that if there are new matters in this new petition, they will be handled accordingly by the municipal council.
“If we will fail to satisfy you, visit the office of the minister in this regard,” said Shivute.
Shivute in May this year told Nampa in an interview over the same issue that the 120 families occupying the 40 single quarter houses at Otjiwarongo are tenants of the municipality, meaning they do not have a say in how the area should be decongested.
He said the municipality plans to sell the single quarter houses to the highest bidder at reserve prices of N.dollars 90 000, with preference given to the current occupants.
“We are firm in our resolve and we will not tire in providing decent cost-reflective services to our residents,” said Shivute.
Source: Namibia Press Agency