Swapo rezones land for fuel station in Walvis Bay
09 October 2020 | Politics
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The ruling party Swapo intends to build a fuel station in Walvis Bay, mimicking a similar move by its secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa in Windhoek’s Rocky Crest area.
The party has applied to have land it owns in Kuisebmond rezoned from institutional to general business purposes.
The party’s intended move is, however, being blocked by Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge.
He took to social media to blast the ruling party’s plans at the coastal town.
Writing to the applicant on behalf of Dunamis Consulting, Ipinge noted his objection to the rezoning of the land.
‘Totally unaccepable’
“It is totally unacceptable that the owner wants to rezone Erf 6287 to make way for a service station and a retail complex in this day and age when we as a community is in dire need of school, universities, medical facilities and recreational spaces,” his letter read.
According to Ipinge, the location where the party intends to build the fuel station is already host to two within a 500-metre radius.
“There is a Puma service station within less than 20 metres from Erf 6287 and a Shell service station within about 400 metres, which remains under-utilised,” he wrote.
He further registered himself as an interested and affected party to participate in consultation processes meant to be held to give input about the proposed rezoning, he wrote.
Ignorance to acceptance
When approached to comment on the matter, the party’s regional coordinator, Daniel Muhuura, first pleaded ignorance to the matter, saying he was only aware that Swapo owned land in Kuisebmond.
“I am not aware. I am not aware, really. As far as I am concerned, I am not aware,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Walvis Bay municipality confirmed that the land in question belongs to the party.
When asked what the rationale was behind the rezoning, Muhuura said the party would comment at a later stage.
“When we reach that bridge, we will cross the river. Just wait for us, we will inform the public accordingly,” he said.
Not the first
Shaningwa plans to build a fuel station on the land she cheaply bought from the City of Windhoek, reportedly under false pretences, The Namibian reported in August.
She initially acquired the land, zoned for institutional land use, to establish a kindergarten, documents show.
The kindergarten was, however, never built and the land remained vacant over the years. According to deeds documents seen by that newspaper, Erf 1 464, Long Island, was registered under Shaningwa's company in 2017, when she was the minister of urban and rural development, but she has allegedly owned this plot for longer.
The area has been used to host Swapo's political events over the years.
WINDHOEK
The ruling party Swapo intends to build a fuel station in Walvis Bay, mimicking a similar move by its secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa in Windhoek’s Rocky Crest area.
The party has applied to have land it owns in Kuisebmond rezoned from institutional to general business purposes.
The party’s intended move is, however, being blocked by Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge.
He took to social media to blast the ruling party’s plans at the coastal town.
Writing to the applicant on behalf of Dunamis Consulting, Ipinge noted his objection to the rezoning of the land.
‘Totally unaccepable’
“It is totally unacceptable that the owner wants to rezone Erf 6287 to make way for a service station and a retail complex in this day and age when we as a community is in dire need of school, universities, medical facilities and recreational spaces,” his letter read.
According to Ipinge, the location where the party intends to build the fuel station is already host to two within a 500-metre radius.
“There is a Puma service station within less than 20 metres from Erf 6287 and a Shell service station within about 400 metres, which remains under-utilised,” he wrote.
He further registered himself as an interested and affected party to participate in consultation processes meant to be held to give input about the proposed rezoning, he wrote.
Ignorance to acceptance
When approached to comment on the matter, the party’s regional coordinator, Daniel Muhuura, first pleaded ignorance to the matter, saying he was only aware that Swapo owned land in Kuisebmond.
“I am not aware. I am not aware, really. As far as I am concerned, I am not aware,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Walvis Bay municipality confirmed that the land in question belongs to the party.
When asked what the rationale was behind the rezoning, Muhuura said the party would comment at a later stage.
“When we reach that bridge, we will cross the river. Just wait for us, we will inform the public accordingly,” he said.
Not the first
Shaningwa plans to build a fuel station on the land she cheaply bought from the City of Windhoek, reportedly under false pretences, The Namibian reported in August.
She initially acquired the land, zoned for institutional land use, to establish a kindergarten, documents show.
The kindergarten was, however, never built and the land remained vacant over the years. According to deeds documents seen by that newspaper, Erf 1 464, Long Island, was registered under Shaningwa's company in 2017, when she was the minister of urban and rural development, but she has allegedly owned this plot for longer.
The area has been used to host Swapo's political events over the years.
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