Criminals exploit Oshiko darkness
Residents of Oshiko say the lack services from the Ongwediva Town Council has turned them vulnerable to criminals.
Impatient Oshiko residents say they are increasingly falling prey to thieves and robbers, who are taking advantage of the cover of darkness, amid an ongoing battle with the Ongwediva Town Council to electrify the township.
The town council has been saying for years that it will provide electricity infrastructure to Oshiko, once funds become available.
The council partly serviced Oshiko five years ago, by providing water and sewerage services.
It said at the time that it will be providing electricity at a later stage.
However, residents allege that they have not received the assurance that they seek from the council that electricity will be made available to them.
Hundreds of people live in Oshiko, with many of them having moved to the area following their relocation from Extension 12 in 2014, which was zoned as an industrial area.
Speaking to Namibian Sun recently, Oshiko residents expressed their disappointment, saying they have been waiting too long and that the council has failed for the past two years to hold a meeting them about the challenges it faces with regard to supplying electricity to the township. Residents complain about living in darkness, which they say has made the area a hotbed for crime during the night, where muggers disappear into the nearby bushes.
“If you come here at night, it is dark. We are even afraid to come out at night when nature calls. We lost a lot of our assets, because thieves come here at night and break into our homes; some will even rob you when you are on your way out or when you are knocking off late (from work),” a concerned resident said.
Residents also say that due to the absence of electricity, they are forced to either use firewood or gas stoves when cooking, and candles in their rooms at night, which they say is dangerous.
“Our lives have not improved. When we were brought here, we thought things will be better, but it turned out to be the opposite of what we were promised,” another resident said.
“Imagine if you have a child who schools at a local university in Ongwediva or Oshakati; that child will not study freely, because he or she needs to charge his or her laptop and study, but in this case it is not happening. This has forced us to send our kids to their uncles and aunties, where there is electricity,” the resident said further.
Residents also pointed out that when consultations for their relocation were taking places, they were told that they could grow backyard gardens. However, this is not possible, as roaming livestock graze in the area and end up eating their plants.
Currently only those who can afford to apply for electricity to be installed from a transformer, which is situated along the main road, have access to electricity.
Town council spokesperson Jackson Muma said he is aware of the situation, but due to limited funds, they are unable to electrify Oshiko at this stage.
Muma added there are other townships that were established before Oshiko, which also need to receive electrification services.
“In terms of electricity that side, the council is aware of those people, and they are not forgotten,” Muma said.
He, however, could not give a timeframe for when electrification would be taking place, adding that this will be determined by the availability of resources.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The town council has been saying for years that it will provide electricity infrastructure to Oshiko, once funds become available.
The council partly serviced Oshiko five years ago, by providing water and sewerage services.
It said at the time that it will be providing electricity at a later stage.
However, residents allege that they have not received the assurance that they seek from the council that electricity will be made available to them.
Hundreds of people live in Oshiko, with many of them having moved to the area following their relocation from Extension 12 in 2014, which was zoned as an industrial area.
Speaking to Namibian Sun recently, Oshiko residents expressed their disappointment, saying they have been waiting too long and that the council has failed for the past two years to hold a meeting them about the challenges it faces with regard to supplying electricity to the township. Residents complain about living in darkness, which they say has made the area a hotbed for crime during the night, where muggers disappear into the nearby bushes.
“If you come here at night, it is dark. We are even afraid to come out at night when nature calls. We lost a lot of our assets, because thieves come here at night and break into our homes; some will even rob you when you are on your way out or when you are knocking off late (from work),” a concerned resident said.
Residents also say that due to the absence of electricity, they are forced to either use firewood or gas stoves when cooking, and candles in their rooms at night, which they say is dangerous.
“Our lives have not improved. When we were brought here, we thought things will be better, but it turned out to be the opposite of what we were promised,” another resident said.
“Imagine if you have a child who schools at a local university in Ongwediva or Oshakati; that child will not study freely, because he or she needs to charge his or her laptop and study, but in this case it is not happening. This has forced us to send our kids to their uncles and aunties, where there is electricity,” the resident said further.
Residents also pointed out that when consultations for their relocation were taking places, they were told that they could grow backyard gardens. However, this is not possible, as roaming livestock graze in the area and end up eating their plants.
Currently only those who can afford to apply for electricity to be installed from a transformer, which is situated along the main road, have access to electricity.
Town council spokesperson Jackson Muma said he is aware of the situation, but due to limited funds, they are unable to electrify Oshiko at this stage.
Muma added there are other townships that were established before Oshiko, which also need to receive electrification services.
“In terms of electricity that side, the council is aware of those people, and they are not forgotten,” Muma said.
He, however, could not give a timeframe for when electrification would be taking place, adding that this will be determined by the availability of resources.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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