Onguta becomes township
The town council of Ondangwa is in the process of formalising one of its oldest locations Onguta.
According to the town's technical manager, Petrus Shipanga, the council has planned to establish 367 residential plots of which 154 were already standardised during the first phase of formalisation, which started in August last year.
On Tuesday, council held a meeting with residents of Onguta where the town's mayor, Paavo Amwele, applauded the community for cooperating with council during the formalisation process since its inception.
Amwele told residents that council had contracted a Windhoek-based company, Brumar Construction, to construct the sewage system at a cost of N$4 million.
“From our 30 May meeting last year on the planned formalisation of Onguta, you have cooperated very well. The process went smoothly without delays from the community. I am urging you to continue in this way. Those that are not happy are welcome to visit the council offices,” Amwele said applauding the residents.
During the meeting, a resident, Margret Iitope, expressed her displeasure with the town council for reducing the plot sizes during the formalisation process.
She said council had relocated them to Onguta in 1997 from Jay-Jay location, behind Three Sister Mall, which is a flood-prone area and allocated big plots, which council is now reducing during the formalisation process.
“When we were relocated here from Jay-Jay we were given bigger plots, but now council is reducing them. We now have small plots and we are not happy with that,” Iitope said.
Responding to Iitope's concern, Shipanga said the reduction in plot sizes is not meant to take land from the people, but for the whole community to share equally in the land that is available.
“Onguta was in a mess and people were not settled in an orderly fashion. We had to settle them in accordance with township standards. Those who had bigger yards had to be divided so that we could accommodate everybody. Some people were relocated to create space for services such as road, water, electricity and sewage networks, as well as reserved areas,” Shipanga explained.
According to the former Onguta headman, Sakaria Nikanor, he asked that council speed up the process so that they can start constructing their homes.
“Ever since we have been here, we are not yet allowed to build permanent structures. We are ready and willing to construct our houses, but the municipality is delaying us due to the formalisation process,” Nikanor said.
Shipanga told the meeting that those who are formalised are free to approach council's offices if they need assistance with their house plans. He said very soon the council will issue residents with allocation letters in order for them to acquire title deeds for the land.
He also said the construction of the sewage system has been completed and water and electricity networks will now be installed.
ILENI NANDJATO
According to the town's technical manager, Petrus Shipanga, the council has planned to establish 367 residential plots of which 154 were already standardised during the first phase of formalisation, which started in August last year.
On Tuesday, council held a meeting with residents of Onguta where the town's mayor, Paavo Amwele, applauded the community for cooperating with council during the formalisation process since its inception.
Amwele told residents that council had contracted a Windhoek-based company, Brumar Construction, to construct the sewage system at a cost of N$4 million.
“From our 30 May meeting last year on the planned formalisation of Onguta, you have cooperated very well. The process went smoothly without delays from the community. I am urging you to continue in this way. Those that are not happy are welcome to visit the council offices,” Amwele said applauding the residents.
During the meeting, a resident, Margret Iitope, expressed her displeasure with the town council for reducing the plot sizes during the formalisation process.
She said council had relocated them to Onguta in 1997 from Jay-Jay location, behind Three Sister Mall, which is a flood-prone area and allocated big plots, which council is now reducing during the formalisation process.
“When we were relocated here from Jay-Jay we were given bigger plots, but now council is reducing them. We now have small plots and we are not happy with that,” Iitope said.
Responding to Iitope's concern, Shipanga said the reduction in plot sizes is not meant to take land from the people, but for the whole community to share equally in the land that is available.
“Onguta was in a mess and people were not settled in an orderly fashion. We had to settle them in accordance with township standards. Those who had bigger yards had to be divided so that we could accommodate everybody. Some people were relocated to create space for services such as road, water, electricity and sewage networks, as well as reserved areas,” Shipanga explained.
According to the former Onguta headman, Sakaria Nikanor, he asked that council speed up the process so that they can start constructing their homes.
“Ever since we have been here, we are not yet allowed to build permanent structures. We are ready and willing to construct our houses, but the municipality is delaying us due to the formalisation process,” Nikanor said.
Shipanga told the meeting that those who are formalised are free to approach council's offices if they need assistance with their house plans. He said very soon the council will issue residents with allocation letters in order for them to acquire title deeds for the land.
He also said the construction of the sewage system has been completed and water and electricity networks will now be installed.
ILENI NANDJATO
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