More independent land audits

Urban and Rural Development Minister Sophia Shaningwa might have won over the hearts of the Okahandja community activists after giving the close to 260 individuals and businesses at the Garden Town an ultimatum to provide proof detailing how they acquired various plots at the town in the last five years. The Okahandja land deals have been the subject of an investigation by the urban and rural development minister since April last year following accusations of favouritism against the municipality. It is good that the minister is following up on her investigation as this could go a long way into tackling widespread allegations of corruption at the town. However, Okahandja is not the only town where councillors have been accused of dishing out plots to themselves, as well as their friends and acquaintances. The City of Windhoek, specifically, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the years when it comes to land dealings involving the top brass at the municipality along with well-connected individuals. Many land deals approved by the City of Windhoek have attracted controversy, while government has been accused of being reluctant to deal with the unfolding land issue. Thousands of Namibians especially the middle class have been on the receiving end of some of these corrupt land deals, which has seen the politicians and other well-connected officials using their time in office to enrich themselves instead of advancing the development of their respective towns. We really feel that the honourable minister should do the right thing and also order a forensic audit into alleged corrupt land deals by city councillors, not only at Okahandja, but also at all other municipalities countrywide, especially there where such allegations have been previously reported and subsequently swept under the carpet – so as not to ruffle any luminary feathers of course. Such an investigation will also go a long way into identifying the serious challenges in the delivery of serviced land. What is clear though is that many town councils, including the City of Windhoek, do not have a clear land release strategy thus neglecting the poor and middle-income earners of a decent place to call home.