Shack-razing on hold for now

The Khomas Regional Council Chairperson Zulu Shitongeni had to step in to have the demolition of the shacks in the Goreangab dam stopped until the two councils, municipal and regional, hold meetings to find better solution to the problem.

Namibian Sun learnt that the two councils are meeting today and on Monday.

The City of Windhoek yesterday continued demolishing illegal structures that have been erected on municipality land, a process that started on Wednesday.

By yesterday afternoon, a front-end loader had only demolished a couple of shacks until the squatters became unruly. They formed human barriers in front of shacks preventing the machine from dismantling their shacks.

“This is worse than how people were treated during the colonial era,” said a group of women talking.”

“Corrugated iron sheets are expensive. How you demolish it in this manner, shouted a man looking at the front-end loader. Settlers were demanding that the driver get out of the loader so that they can beat him up for destroying their shacks.

Shitongeni told the settlers’ that after the meeting between the two councils, he will return and inform them about the outcome.

“However, whoever wants to remove their shack peacefully is welcome to do so,” he told the settlers.

Samora Machel Constituency Councillor Absai Angula said they are not against the demolition of shacks but against the manner in which it is done.

“I don’t want people to use force when destroying property but rather a peaceful approach,” he said. On Wednesday, Senior Superintended of City Police and Emergency Management Department, Gerry Shikesho, said for the past two weeks residents have been told to remove their structures. He said that according to council resolutions the land is earmarked for a school.

Squatters maintained they have never received an eviction order. The area has over 70 shacks.