Katima demolitions going to court
Residents who have lost their homes at Katima Mulilo during the demolitions almost a month ago, are seeking compensation in the Namibian courts.
The Katima Mulilo Town Council will soon have to explain itself in a court of law as disgruntled and now homeless residents say the council was on the wrong side of the law after it demolished several homes almost a month ago.
The town council, on 28 September, with the assistance of the police, ordered the demolitions of “illegal structures erected on municipal land”, leaving many families homeless and some injured.
The demolitions were halted after human rights law firm Norman Tjombe and Elago threatened to get a High Court interdict to compel them to halt demolitions.
Tjombe on Friday confirmed that they are still heading to court on behalf of the entire affected community to demand compensation from the council.
“They must compensate residents or they will have to restore or rebuild their properties,” said Tjombe.
The attorney-general Sacky Shanghala recently told parliament that demolishing homes is not wrong per se, but that it is wrong to do so without notifying people.
The town council demolished the homes of what they called “land grabbers” but did so without a court order.
Meanwhile, Induna Lutambo Kalima, the senior headman in the Mafwe Traditional Authority, told Namibian Sun that the land in question belongs to the traditional authority and not the council.
According to Kalima, the town council had put in place town boundaries without the permission of the traditional authority.
“They have never asked for the land. In fact, when they demolished people's homes they did not even notify the traditional authority. Even my village was taken and included without permission,” he said.
However, the acting CEO of the council Patrick Mulungwe said this is not the case and that boundaries have been solidly in place since the town was proclaimed in 1998.
He also confirmed that the council has received “numerous letters from lawyers” regarding the demolitions.
“We are looking at that and we are also engaging our lawyers,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The town council, on 28 September, with the assistance of the police, ordered the demolitions of “illegal structures erected on municipal land”, leaving many families homeless and some injured.
The demolitions were halted after human rights law firm Norman Tjombe and Elago threatened to get a High Court interdict to compel them to halt demolitions.
Tjombe on Friday confirmed that they are still heading to court on behalf of the entire affected community to demand compensation from the council.
“They must compensate residents or they will have to restore or rebuild their properties,” said Tjombe.
The attorney-general Sacky Shanghala recently told parliament that demolishing homes is not wrong per se, but that it is wrong to do so without notifying people.
The town council demolished the homes of what they called “land grabbers” but did so without a court order.
Meanwhile, Induna Lutambo Kalima, the senior headman in the Mafwe Traditional Authority, told Namibian Sun that the land in question belongs to the traditional authority and not the council.
According to Kalima, the town council had put in place town boundaries without the permission of the traditional authority.
“They have never asked for the land. In fact, when they demolished people's homes they did not even notify the traditional authority. Even my village was taken and included without permission,” he said.
However, the acting CEO of the council Patrick Mulungwe said this is not the case and that boundaries have been solidly in place since the town was proclaimed in 1998.
He also confirmed that the council has received “numerous letters from lawyers” regarding the demolitions.
“We are looking at that and we are also engaging our lawyers,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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