Congo lists Okahandja’s priorities

The newly elected mayor of Okahandja, Johannes Congo Hindjou, has drawn up a priority list of projects the town council will focus on to improve living conditions in the erstwhile ‘Garden Town’. The former football star says his top three priorities for the next ten months in office will be to address sewage problems, the lack of water in informal settlements and cleaning up the town. He says although the council and the municipality staff are committed to addressing these problems, the solutions would only be effective if the community members bring their side. Hindjou says through consultation with the community amicable solutions to problems will be found faster. The once pretty town of Okahandja has become an eyesore and a health hazard, with sewage flowing in the streets, a shortage of water and electricity, and criminals ruling the roost. Hindjou says because he comes from the community he knows the problems faced by the people and therefore he will strive for the consistent delivery of efficient services. “I come from the community. I have the interest of the people at heart and I will ensure the municipal services reach them. I entered into council with the interests of the people at heart. We have to give the people service,” he said. He says other issues the council will look into are the servicing of residential plots and the lack of streetlights in the town. Hindjou says although people are eager to own land they must follow the right procedures to acquire it, since the grabbing of land will not be tolerated. According to him, what is happening in the Vergenoeg informal area - where people have been grabbing land but have no access to essential services - is a result of not following procedures. “When you sit on land which is not serviced you also sit without water and electricity. At the end of the day it is not helpful to anyone,” he says. It is because of this that the council will have to go to the people living on unserviced land and talk to them. He says the intention is not to chase the people away but talk about how the situation can be rectified. According to Hindjou infrastructure development and road construction will also be looked at, especially the high number of potholes in the town’s streets. Sport development is not on his priority list but will be looked at too. Hindjou says he is confident and happy to work alongside the town council’s recently appointed CEO, Martha Mutilifa, who he describes as someone who will make sure the town develops at a faster pace. KENYA KAMBOWE