Property rights and political connections

Namibia is really fast becoming a land of mind-boggling contradictions, inconsistencies and double standards. Recent media reports again highlighted controversy around the contentious issue of land delivery within the City of Windhoek's jurisdiction. The Namibian reported on Wednesday that the municipality was considering plans to sell houses to four city councillors as part of the special treatment enjoyed by political office-bearers. According to the report, councillors Immanuel Paulus, Agatha Iyambo, Joseph Kauandenge and Ignatius Semba are all demanding to be allocated land or houses of their choice. This comes at a time when there is renewed and intense debate over the land issue, which has been a spectacular failure in Windhoek. Recent revelations by urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa showed that Windhoek has only serviced 371 plots in the last three years, compared to towns like Oshakati, Keetmanshoop, Katima Mulilo and Walvis Bay, who have serviced hundreds of erven for its residents. This is a huge shame for the City of Windhoek and confirms our long-held assertions that the city lacks a simple land release strategy. Until when will the well-connected continue to receive preferential treatment while the majority have no access to land and property rights? Rising prices have also put houses out of reach of ordinary Namibians, meaning more land needs to be serviced for residential purposes to reduce the mismatch between supply and demand. It is every Namibian's dream to have access to land and home ownership, but this cannot be realised if the City of Windhoek dishes out land to a connected few at discounted prices. All we want is fairness to prevail at all times as we are all equal before the law. If you make provisions for one person you are basically setting a bad precedent. What about the investments many families have put their life savings into, just to buy a home? At the moment the land allocation system at the City of Windhoek appears to be more of a lucky draw than a legal process to us as outsiders. This should not be allowed to continue unchallenged. It is unacceptable!