Tweya bows to rent control pressure

Trade minister Tjekero Tweya has succumbed to pressure from the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement by finally announcing the appointment of rent control boards in four regions.

According to Tweya, boards have been appointed in the Oshana, Kavango East, Erongo and Khomas regions and will serve for a period of three years.

He added nominations for board members were received much earlier, but the process stalled at some point due to unforeseen circumstances. The appointments have now been finalised.





“On the 25 October 2018, the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development verified whether all nominees were still available by approaching local authorities, the shack dwellers association, the Magistrate's Commission (judiciary), the National Youth Council and the Affirmative Repositioning group.

“It is against this background that I would like to announce the appointment of the members to the rent control boards,” he said.

In February last year, AR threatened legal action against government, which had put the appointment of these boards on hold until the tabling of a new bill.

At the time, Tweya, then information minister, announced a sudden turnabout on appointing rent control boards by saying the Rents Ordinance 13 of 1977 had become obsolete and would render the work of rent boards of no force or effect.

He announced that a new bill was on the cards, which would replace the current legislation, adding it would be impractical to implement rent control boards.

Yesterday he emphasised they are currently reviewing the old law

“I want to believe that where there is a will there will also be a way; it is an old law, but up until it is replaced with a new one… we can still use that law… it is for us to allow them (the boards) to do what they have to do,” he said.

He urged Namibians to contribute to the new revised law and not only criticise.

Tweya added he wants to give the boards a chance to familiarise themselves with the ordinance and allow them to do what they must. In October this year Amupanda finally dragged Tweya to court over a 2016 agreement to establish rent control boards. AR has for the past two years repeatedly hammered on the fact that the pre-independence Rents Ordinance 13 of 1977 is still in place and government can, if it chooses, revive old-era rent boards. Tweya announced yesterday the rent control boards will be chaired by local magistrates and have a vice-chairperson and three ordinary board members.

The 1977 ordinance stipulates that these board chairs have the power to summon landlords to answer why they are charging exorbitant monthly rental fees for properties.

Tweya said the process to have the boards gazetted is currently with the legal drafters.

For Oshana region Tweya appointed Magistrate Mikka Namwya as chairperson, Werner Iita as deputy chair and Immanuel Nuuyoma, Martha Kaulwa and Lukas Matati Josua as ordinary members. The Kavango East board consists of Magistrate Hellen Panduleni Olaiya as chair, Sikongo Gideon Haihambo as her deputy and Anselm Marunga, Katrina Kamina and Kristian Shinderere as ordinary members. The Swakopmund board consists of Magistrate Conchita Olivier, Marco Swarts as her deputy, Sara-Leigh Elago, and Knowledge Iipinge and J. Nembungu.

In Walvis Bay the board chair is Magistrate Vicky Nicolaidis, Muronga Haingura as her deputy and Manfred Likoro, Moses Weyulu and AR firebrand Andre Gunter Von Broen as ordinary members.

In Khomas, Magistrate Ingrid Unengu is the board chairperson, while Fillemon Hambuda is her deputy and Brown Mutrifa, Otilie Nalulu and AR activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma are the ordinary members.

JEMIMA BEUKES