Land grabs soar at Ondangwa
The Ondangwa town council has urged residents to refrain from grabbing land and to follow the available procedures.
Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho said a number of illegal structures were being put up around the town, almost on a daily basis.
Shitalangaho said residents can get plots by applying directly at the council or through established organisations such as the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).
“Land grabbing is not really a main concern to us, but we are always observing a number of illegal structures being erected almost on a daily basis. We are therefore warning residents to refrain from occupying land illegally or erecting unauthorised structures,” Shitalangaho said.
“We will make sure that all the residents comply with the town council's rules and regulations. Such illegal structures have to be removed.”
Shitalangaho said the town council always notifies residents about unauthorised activities as soon as they are detected. This is done in order for residents not to waste their resources on constructing unauthorised structures that have to be removed or demolished. She added that some comply, while others defy the council orders and either carry on building illegally or continue to occupy land that is not theirs. “We are urging town residents to always cooperate with the town council's regulations. If they are notified to remove or stop constructing their illegal structures, they must do so as soon as possible. It will not be a good thing if the council is forced to use its own power to remove such structures or demolish them,” she said. The SDFN has 2 479 members in Ondangwa and has built 128 houses.
Outgoing Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa has called on local authorities to support the SDFN by giving them land in order to avoid land grabbing. He said the federation was trying to provide decent houses for the poor. “I applaud the Ondangwa town council for creating a public-private partnership (PPP) with the SDFN to build houses for the poor and needy. This initiative is highly recommended for all local authorities in Namibia, to make sure that they provide affordable houses for their people,” Kashuupulwa added.
Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho said a number of illegal structures were being put up around the town, almost on a daily basis.
Shitalangaho said residents can get plots by applying directly at the council or through established organisations such as the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).
“Land grabbing is not really a main concern to us, but we are always observing a number of illegal structures being erected almost on a daily basis. We are therefore warning residents to refrain from occupying land illegally or erecting unauthorised structures,” Shitalangaho said.
“We will make sure that all the residents comply with the town council's rules and regulations. Such illegal structures have to be removed.”
Shitalangaho said the town council always notifies residents about unauthorised activities as soon as they are detected. This is done in order for residents not to waste their resources on constructing unauthorised structures that have to be removed or demolished. She added that some comply, while others defy the council orders and either carry on building illegally or continue to occupy land that is not theirs. “We are urging town residents to always cooperate with the town council's regulations. If they are notified to remove or stop constructing their illegal structures, they must do so as soon as possible. It will not be a good thing if the council is forced to use its own power to remove such structures or demolish them,” she said. The SDFN has 2 479 members in Ondangwa and has built 128 houses.
Outgoing Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa has called on local authorities to support the SDFN by giving them land in order to avoid land grabbing. He said the federation was trying to provide decent houses for the poor. “I applaud the Ondangwa town council for creating a public-private partnership (PPP) with the SDFN to build houses for the poor and needy. This initiative is highly recommended for all local authorities in Namibia, to make sure that they provide affordable houses for their people,” Kashuupulwa added.
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