Onawa township raises ire
Residents of the newly proclaimed township are unhappy about the compensation policy used by the authorities.
A proposed township on the outskirts of Oshakati has raised the ire of community members who claim they were not properly informed by the town council about the pending housing development.
Irate community members boycotted a ground-breaking ceremony officiated by urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa this week.
The residents held a separate meeting with their headman where they, among others, questioned the compensation policy used by the local authority. Onawa is earmarked for 3 000 low-income houses and the town council has budgeted N$7 million to service the area to form a new township. The project will be done in phases. In 2013, 89 homeowners out of the total 97 homesteads in Onawa were compensated for their land, but conflict has been brewing ever since between the town council and some dissatisfied community members.
Some residents have bluntly refused to vacate the piece of land despite having received compensation for it. They claim they were not compensated fully.
“We, the residents of Onawa, are not happy or accepting of the work done by the Oshakati Town Council as they have failed to carry out their responsibilities. #socialjustice,” read a message placed on a large swath of fabric on the headman's field. During the ground-breaking event, Shaningwa said she was well aware of the discontent brewing within the community. “I should also indicate that there are people who seem not to be convinced that they have to vacate their places,” she said.
“We have the responsibility to build the country and we have the responsibility to negotiate with the people, thus, those of you who are not yet convinced, you should please approach the regional governor as well as the mayor and CEO of Oshakati so that at least you can work together as a team on your compensation package in accordance with the law and policies of Namibia.” Unhappy residents claim they were not getting detailed information from the Oshakati officials regarding the compensation policy.
“The Oshakati Town Council was supposed to explain to the people what the compensation policy states, but instead they tricked the people to sign and because most of the homestead owners are old and poor, they signed without understanding the consequences,” Josua Haunawa told Namibian Sun. Haunawa explained the people are not against development, but unhappy about the council “sidestepping the compensation policy”.
“The council must just come and sit down with the people and negotiate. This thing of having a ceremony without the presence of the headman is an insult to us,” Haunawa remarked. Oshakati CEO Werner Iita denied the allegations, saying proper and thorough consultations took place before people agreed to move. He is of the view that conflict amongst family members is the source of the current dispute.
“To me there is no conflict… our offices are always open and we are there for them. Any person who wants to acquire or register a complaint is welcome, our office is open for them,” Iita said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Irate community members boycotted a ground-breaking ceremony officiated by urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa this week.
The residents held a separate meeting with their headman where they, among others, questioned the compensation policy used by the local authority. Onawa is earmarked for 3 000 low-income houses and the town council has budgeted N$7 million to service the area to form a new township. The project will be done in phases. In 2013, 89 homeowners out of the total 97 homesteads in Onawa were compensated for their land, but conflict has been brewing ever since between the town council and some dissatisfied community members.
Some residents have bluntly refused to vacate the piece of land despite having received compensation for it. They claim they were not compensated fully.
“We, the residents of Onawa, are not happy or accepting of the work done by the Oshakati Town Council as they have failed to carry out their responsibilities. #socialjustice,” read a message placed on a large swath of fabric on the headman's field. During the ground-breaking event, Shaningwa said she was well aware of the discontent brewing within the community. “I should also indicate that there are people who seem not to be convinced that they have to vacate their places,” she said.
“We have the responsibility to build the country and we have the responsibility to negotiate with the people, thus, those of you who are not yet convinced, you should please approach the regional governor as well as the mayor and CEO of Oshakati so that at least you can work together as a team on your compensation package in accordance with the law and policies of Namibia.” Unhappy residents claim they were not getting detailed information from the Oshakati officials regarding the compensation policy.
“The Oshakati Town Council was supposed to explain to the people what the compensation policy states, but instead they tricked the people to sign and because most of the homestead owners are old and poor, they signed without understanding the consequences,” Josua Haunawa told Namibian Sun. Haunawa explained the people are not against development, but unhappy about the council “sidestepping the compensation policy”.
“The council must just come and sit down with the people and negotiate. This thing of having a ceremony without the presence of the headman is an insult to us,” Haunawa remarked. Oshakati CEO Werner Iita denied the allegations, saying proper and thorough consultations took place before people agreed to move. He is of the view that conflict amongst family members is the source of the current dispute.
“To me there is no conflict… our offices are always open and we are there for them. Any person who wants to acquire or register a complaint is welcome, our office is open for them,” Iita said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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