Property firm rejects allegations over Osona Village

A document submitted to the Okahandja municipality has raised concerns about governance, infrastructure and affordability at the Osona Village development – allegations the Osona Property Management Company (OPMC) has firmly denied.

The document, seen by Namibian Sun, was prepared to brief newly appointed councillors on alleged governance and infrastructure risks linked to the project. It was handed over on 25 March and was authored by an individual who asked to remain anonymous.

Among the claims are frequent power outages affecting residents, particularly during the rainy season.

Namibian Sun could not independently verify all the allegations contained in the document.

The document alleges that more than N$15 million has been spent on interim wastewater solutions while a permanent plant remains outstanding, raising concerns about environmental risks and long-term sustainability.

On governance, it alleges that no formal procurement policies have been in place for more than a decade, with service providers allegedly appointed without transparent processes.

It also raises concerns about the concentration of housing construction among a limited number of developers, questioning whether this aligns with the project’s original goal of supporting small and medium enterprises.

The document also questions whether rising land and housing prices remain in line with the development’s original affordability targets.

It asks councillors to consider whether Osona Village is still operating as a public-interest housing initiative or has shifted to a private development model.

Allegations denied

OPMC chief executive officer Alex Goethje last week categorically rejected the claims contained in the document, describing them as false, malicious and unsubstantiated.

Goethje said Osona Village is a private development undertaken by Preferred Land Development Holding (PLDH), with partial funding from the Government Institutions Pension Fund (Gipf), and that it remains compliant with its original mandate.

He said bulk infrastructure upgrades are ongoing, including the construction of a permanent wastewater treatment plant expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Goethje added that a second electrical supply point was completed in 2025 to improve capacity, while further upgrades are planned in collaboration with NamPower.

Addressing concerns about electricity outages, Goethje attributed recent disruptions to lightning strikes affecting both NamPower’s distribution lines and Osona’s internal network.

He underlined that repairs were completed within days.

He also dismissed claims of limited competition, saying the development remains open to any qualifying developer and that participation depends on individual capacity and performance.

On governance and labour matters, Goethje said OPMC complies with all applicable laws and standards.

Gipf investigates claims

Gipf, which invested in the development through its unlisted investment portfolio, said it continues to expect the project to align with its developmental objectives, particularly the provision of accessible housing for civil servants and middle-income earners.

Gipf spokesperson Edwin Tjiramba said the fund does not manage day-to-day operations, which are handled by appointed fund managers and project-level entities.

However, he said Gipf is engaging the relevant fund manager to assess the concerns raised, including affordability, infrastructure sustainability and procurement practices.

“We take all stakeholder concerns seriously and have initiated engagement to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the matter,” he said.

Tjiramba added that the fund has requested information on contractor allocation, procurement processes and whether current development practices support broader participation by small and previously disadvantaged developers.

[email protected]