Dead towns must come alive - Uutoni
• Oshakati breaks ground on new housing project
Phase one of the development will build 509 houses and will employ close to 600 people.
Tuyeimo HaidulaOSHAKATI
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni says dead local authorities and village councils give the impression that the government is not doing enough to alleviate poverty and address the housing crisis in Namibia.
Uutoni, who was clearly irritated by what he termed lack of leadership, said he recently visited a village council and there was no movement in the “beautifully standing building”. He made the remarks on Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony of a housing development by BH Property in collaboration with the Oshakati town council.
“One wonders when that council gets to collect money owed to them from their residents, as there was not a single person walking in to pay water bills,” Uutoni lamented.
He praised Oshana governor Elia Irimari and the leadership of Oshakati, mayor Leonard Hango and chief executive officer Timoteus Namwandi, saying their town is one of those with “great leadership and development is taking place at a fast pace”.
Uutoni urged the council to desist from infighting, saying that diverts attention from addressing the needs of the people.
He told those in attendance that his ministry was hard at work to provide affordable houses for all Namibians and that they would not stop until this was done.
Stop complaining
Uutoni also told Namibians to stop complaining so much.
“Fellow citizens, if you complain too much, you delete the space of positive thinking. You will not see that government is trying to address your needs because you are focused on complaining,” he said.
Uutoni said President Hage Geingob appointed people to assist him in building the ‘Namibian House’ and those appointed should do their job to make this dream a reality. He applauded Ben Hauwanga, owner of BH Properties, for meeting the government halfway in addressing the housing shortage at Oshakati.
“Once we do things and work together, we will all be happy. It is us and not the president alone who can fix our issues,” he stressed.
Hauwanga agreed, saying the government is trying and has been pulling its weight in service delivery countrywide. He referred to the Okatana road, which now allows Ongwediva and Oshakati residents to travel swiftly between the two towns. In the past, the roads were congested and there was a delay in the traffic flow.
“In this global economic crisis, we need to meet the government halfway. Together we can make things happen. Councils of other towns must learn from Oshakati,” he said. Hauwanga told Uutoni that they will deliver on the promised project. He said he will hand over the first houses in a month’s time, and thereafter a new house every second day.
The houses, which will be built in two phases over three years, are expected to cost BH Properties N$305 million.
Phase one will build 509 houses and will employ close to 600 people. The project will have 20 subcontractors. The pricing of the houses will be put up on a website www.ompumbu.com, which will show the percentage of locally manufactured material used on the entire project and the number of personnel appointed locally. There will be updated plans and drawings on the website. The clients can download their offer to purchase and meet agents as well.
[email protected]
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni says dead local authorities and village councils give the impression that the government is not doing enough to alleviate poverty and address the housing crisis in Namibia.
Uutoni, who was clearly irritated by what he termed lack of leadership, said he recently visited a village council and there was no movement in the “beautifully standing building”. He made the remarks on Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony of a housing development by BH Property in collaboration with the Oshakati town council.
“One wonders when that council gets to collect money owed to them from their residents, as there was not a single person walking in to pay water bills,” Uutoni lamented.
He praised Oshana governor Elia Irimari and the leadership of Oshakati, mayor Leonard Hango and chief executive officer Timoteus Namwandi, saying their town is one of those with “great leadership and development is taking place at a fast pace”.
Uutoni urged the council to desist from infighting, saying that diverts attention from addressing the needs of the people.
He told those in attendance that his ministry was hard at work to provide affordable houses for all Namibians and that they would not stop until this was done.
Stop complaining
Uutoni also told Namibians to stop complaining so much.
“Fellow citizens, if you complain too much, you delete the space of positive thinking. You will not see that government is trying to address your needs because you are focused on complaining,” he said.
Uutoni said President Hage Geingob appointed people to assist him in building the ‘Namibian House’ and those appointed should do their job to make this dream a reality. He applauded Ben Hauwanga, owner of BH Properties, for meeting the government halfway in addressing the housing shortage at Oshakati.
“Once we do things and work together, we will all be happy. It is us and not the president alone who can fix our issues,” he stressed.
Hauwanga agreed, saying the government is trying and has been pulling its weight in service delivery countrywide. He referred to the Okatana road, which now allows Ongwediva and Oshakati residents to travel swiftly between the two towns. In the past, the roads were congested and there was a delay in the traffic flow.
“In this global economic crisis, we need to meet the government halfway. Together we can make things happen. Councils of other towns must learn from Oshakati,” he said. Hauwanga told Uutoni that they will deliver on the promised project. He said he will hand over the first houses in a month’s time, and thereafter a new house every second day.
The houses, which will be built in two phases over three years, are expected to cost BH Properties N$305 million.
Phase one will build 509 houses and will employ close to 600 people. The project will have 20 subcontractors. The pricing of the houses will be put up on a website www.ompumbu.com, which will show the percentage of locally manufactured material used on the entire project and the number of personnel appointed locally. There will be updated plans and drawings on the website. The clients can download their offer to purchase and meet agents as well.
[email protected]
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