Rundu informal residents cry foul over years of unmet promises
In the dark for nearly two decades
A spokesperson for the community claims that, despite several attempts to collaborate with the municipality to bring power to the informal settlement, including fundraisers to meet the municipality halfway, nothing has materialised.
Residents of the Tuhingireni informal settlement in Rundu say they have endured nearly two decades without electricity, despite repeated appeals to the Rundu urban constituency office and the town council for assistance.
Community members accuse local authorities of empty promises and deliberate neglect, saying their requests for electrification have been ignored for years.
Community spokesperson Sarafina Shifafure told Namibian Sun this week that efforts to bring development to the area have been met with silence or alleged obstruction.
Moreover, even community fundraisers have not helped.
“In 2017, each household contributed N$750. We raised N$120 000 and approached the constituency councillor to meet us halfway. We were later told government topped it up with over N$290 000, but nothing happened,” Shifafure claimed.
She added that the community even dug trenches themselves in anticipation of electrification by Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) but were later told that the town council had halted the installation, citing safety concerns.
“That was in 2020. Nored got a directive from the Rundu Town Council to stop. Since then, nothing has moved,” she said.
In darkness
The community’s frustration has grown over time.
“We’ve had meetings; we’ve been promised electricity over and over – in 2021, 2022, 2023 – nothing materialised. They told us a German company was coming to electrify 600 households, but it only benefitted Ndama location. Tuhingireni was left out again,” Shifafure said.
Moreover, residents who managed to apply for electricity through Nored claim their boxes were later removed again.
Shifafure also alleged that when residents speak out, they face backlash.
Moreover, she warned that the lack of development is contributing to rising crime and poor living conditions.
“The roads are terrible, and police hardly patrol the area. Crime is high, and young boys are being arrested repeatedly for theft, yet no real action is taken.”
Residents now want answers.
“Why are we being denied basic services like electricity and roads? Why are we always excluded from development?” asked Shifafure.
Allegations dismissed
Approached for comment earlier this week, Rundu urban constituency councillor Victoria Kauma dismissed the allegations, describing the residents’ claims as misinformation and false accusations.
“These people are fabricating stories, claiming I bribe people to silence them,” she said.
Kauma further added that she has called a meeting for 14:00 on Wednesday with the community to “get to the bottom of who is behind all this misinformation”.
Meanwhile, Rundu town council spokesperson Benjamin Makayi said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the regional council.
“If letters were sent to the regional council, that communication was not forwarded to us. We have no record of any formal request from these settlements,” he stressed.
The community maintains it has followed every possible channel. “We’ve written letters. We’ve held meetings. We've sacrificed food to support those digging trenches. But still, we remain in darkness,” Shifafure said.
Community members accuse local authorities of empty promises and deliberate neglect, saying their requests for electrification have been ignored for years.
Community spokesperson Sarafina Shifafure told Namibian Sun this week that efforts to bring development to the area have been met with silence or alleged obstruction.
Moreover, even community fundraisers have not helped.
“In 2017, each household contributed N$750. We raised N$120 000 and approached the constituency councillor to meet us halfway. We were later told government topped it up with over N$290 000, but nothing happened,” Shifafure claimed.
She added that the community even dug trenches themselves in anticipation of electrification by Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) but were later told that the town council had halted the installation, citing safety concerns.
“That was in 2020. Nored got a directive from the Rundu Town Council to stop. Since then, nothing has moved,” she said.
In darkness
The community’s frustration has grown over time.
“We’ve had meetings; we’ve been promised electricity over and over – in 2021, 2022, 2023 – nothing materialised. They told us a German company was coming to electrify 600 households, but it only benefitted Ndama location. Tuhingireni was left out again,” Shifafure said.
Moreover, residents who managed to apply for electricity through Nored claim their boxes were later removed again.
Shifafure also alleged that when residents speak out, they face backlash.
Moreover, she warned that the lack of development is contributing to rising crime and poor living conditions.
“The roads are terrible, and police hardly patrol the area. Crime is high, and young boys are being arrested repeatedly for theft, yet no real action is taken.”
Residents now want answers.
“Why are we being denied basic services like electricity and roads? Why are we always excluded from development?” asked Shifafure.
Allegations dismissed
Approached for comment earlier this week, Rundu urban constituency councillor Victoria Kauma dismissed the allegations, describing the residents’ claims as misinformation and false accusations.
“These people are fabricating stories, claiming I bribe people to silence them,” she said.
Kauma further added that she has called a meeting for 14:00 on Wednesday with the community to “get to the bottom of who is behind all this misinformation”.
Meanwhile, Rundu town council spokesperson Benjamin Makayi said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the regional council.
“If letters were sent to the regional council, that communication was not forwarded to us. We have no record of any formal request from these settlements,” he stressed.
The community maintains it has followed every possible channel. “We’ve written letters. We’ve held meetings. We've sacrificed food to support those digging trenches. But still, we remain in darkness,” Shifafure said.
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