U-turn on pupil evictions
The Ohangwena regional council has reversed its decision to evict learners accommodated at a rundown property at Omungwelume that was bought by the government for N$6 million.
About 118 grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils from Omungwelume Senior Secondary School, which is a non-boarding facility, are accommodated at the property following an instruction from Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa.
The regional council was, however, not happy with Nghaamwa's decision to accommodate the pupils without following proper procedures. The council cited the fact that the house was dilapidated and the pupils were living in harsh conditions. In an interview with Namibian Sun this week, council chairperson Ericson Ndawanifa said when they visited the house last year they found it in dilapidated state. He said before the government paid the owner, the house had been in a good condition. “When the regional council sat this month we decided that we were not going to evict the learners. They are already occupying the house and we have nowhere else where we can take them. One cannot fight fire with fire,” he said. “The house was supposed to be used as offices for Omungwelume settlement officials, but it was declared unfit for human occupation and it was left unoccupied for some time.
When the governor visited the area and found learners struggling with accommodation, he ordered that they be accommodated there.”
Ndawanifa said the regional council did not have money at the moment to renovate the house.
The parents of the children staying in the house have raised some money to have it renovated.
They are also providing food and paying the caretakers.
Ndawanifa said the regional council would now assess the safety, hygiene and health of the children.
“We have to look at the toilets, water and electricity in the house. Even though we did not give authority for these learners to occupy the house, if anything happens we will be held accountable. We therefore need to make sure that everything is proper and there are no risks,” he said.
Nghaamwa said the situation at Omungwelume was worrisome. He said Omungwelume Senior Secondary School had more than 360 learners from across the region, who were suffering due to a lack of accommodation at the school.
He said these learners were being accommodated in shacks, in conditions that did not guarantee them a good future.
“The future of these children is in our hands. We need to care for them. The situation of them living in shacks is not good and we need to do something to help them,” Nghaamwa said.
“Even though there are those accommodated in that house, there are still hundreds of them without proper accommodation. They are at risk of social evils and we will be the ones to be blamed if they do not have a future.”
Nghaamwa said he always provided mahangu to these learners, while their parents were also willing to help, but they were desperate at the moment.
ILENI NANDJATO
About 118 grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils from Omungwelume Senior Secondary School, which is a non-boarding facility, are accommodated at the property following an instruction from Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa.
The regional council was, however, not happy with Nghaamwa's decision to accommodate the pupils without following proper procedures. The council cited the fact that the house was dilapidated and the pupils were living in harsh conditions. In an interview with Namibian Sun this week, council chairperson Ericson Ndawanifa said when they visited the house last year they found it in dilapidated state. He said before the government paid the owner, the house had been in a good condition. “When the regional council sat this month we decided that we were not going to evict the learners. They are already occupying the house and we have nowhere else where we can take them. One cannot fight fire with fire,” he said. “The house was supposed to be used as offices for Omungwelume settlement officials, but it was declared unfit for human occupation and it was left unoccupied for some time.
When the governor visited the area and found learners struggling with accommodation, he ordered that they be accommodated there.”
Ndawanifa said the regional council did not have money at the moment to renovate the house.
The parents of the children staying in the house have raised some money to have it renovated.
They are also providing food and paying the caretakers.
Ndawanifa said the regional council would now assess the safety, hygiene and health of the children.
“We have to look at the toilets, water and electricity in the house. Even though we did not give authority for these learners to occupy the house, if anything happens we will be held accountable. We therefore need to make sure that everything is proper and there are no risks,” he said.
Nghaamwa said the situation at Omungwelume was worrisome. He said Omungwelume Senior Secondary School had more than 360 learners from across the region, who were suffering due to a lack of accommodation at the school.
He said these learners were being accommodated in shacks, in conditions that did not guarantee them a good future.
“The future of these children is in our hands. We need to care for them. The situation of them living in shacks is not good and we need to do something to help them,” Nghaamwa said.
“Even though there are those accommodated in that house, there are still hundreds of them without proper accommodation. They are at risk of social evils and we will be the ones to be blamed if they do not have a future.”
Nghaamwa said he always provided mahangu to these learners, while their parents were also willing to help, but they were desperate at the moment.
ILENI NANDJATO
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