Okahandja forges ahead with expo despite outcry
Okahandja community activists say the town council has pushed for the Okahandja Tourism and Trade Expo to go ahead today, despite the shadow of death and tragedy still hanging over the town.
The expo was initially scheduled to run from 29 April to 2 May but was postponed after the kidnapping and gruesome murders of three young girls.
Mayor Beatrice Kotungondo was forced to postpone the event under pressure from community members, who argued that the town was still mourning over the deaths of Ingrid Maasdorp (5), Roswinds Fabianu (6) and Beyonce !Kharuxas (15).
Maasdorp’s body was found under a bridge in late March, while Fabianu was abducted and murdered a month later.
Kharuxas' body was found in the Five Rand informal settlement in Okahandja on 26 April, the day Kotungondo announced postponing the expo indefinitely.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who visited Okahandja on 27 April, also announced that the expo would be postponed until further notice.
Activist Gerub Gâseb told Namibian Sun yesterday that the community remains opposed to the expo taking place at this time.
Gâseb said the timing of the expo is inappropriate, citing the onset of winter, ongoing school exams and the fact that no arrests have yet been made in connection with the murders of the girls.
"I do not understand why the mayor is pushing ahead with the expo, because Okahandja is still a crime scene," he said.
He added that while he believes life must return to normal eventually, police should first make arrests to reassure residents of progress in the cases.
Gâseb suggested the council refund investors and postpone the expo until next year.
"I am speaking to some councillors who say that they have warned the mayor, her deputy, and an LPM and PDM councillor that going ahead with the expo will backfire on the council," the activist said.
Pressure from business community
Kotungondo told Namibian Sun yesterday that the mourning period had ended and the town had given the girls a dignified burial.
"We consulted and decided to go ahead with the expo. About 90% of the pressure came from the community members who felt we cannot have a wedding and a funeral," she said.
The mayor added that she was not aware of any formal complaints regarding the expo’s resumption.
She argued that the council had come under pressure from investors, who were demanding refunds if the expo did not take place as planned this year.
According to her, some community members, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), had pestered the council to proceed, saying they wanted to showcase their products.
Kotungondo added that the council did not require permission from the president’s office, as it had been the council’s own decision to postpone the event.
She confirmed that an invitation was extended to Nandi-Ndaitwah, but no response has yet been received.
The mayor indicated that the council was set to meet all stakeholders yesterday to discuss the logistics around the expo.
Community revival
This year's event is themed 'Reviving Okahandja Expo: Empowering Entrepreneurship through Innovation'.
Speaking at the weekend, Kotongondo painted a vibrant picture of the expo, saying they expect local fuel stations to be overwhelmed with customers, local accommodations to be fully booked and a general boost in sales across the town.
Kotongondo urged businesses of all sizes to showcase their innovations.
The municipality has allocated N$551 000 towards the event, though the projected cost is N$815 000.
Various stakeholders have pledged support to bridge the funding gap, with contributions coming from artists, local businesses and corporate sponsors.
The expo was initially scheduled to run from 29 April to 2 May but was postponed after the kidnapping and gruesome murders of three young girls.
Mayor Beatrice Kotungondo was forced to postpone the event under pressure from community members, who argued that the town was still mourning over the deaths of Ingrid Maasdorp (5), Roswinds Fabianu (6) and Beyonce !Kharuxas (15).
Maasdorp’s body was found under a bridge in late March, while Fabianu was abducted and murdered a month later.
Kharuxas' body was found in the Five Rand informal settlement in Okahandja on 26 April, the day Kotungondo announced postponing the expo indefinitely.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who visited Okahandja on 27 April, also announced that the expo would be postponed until further notice.
Activist Gerub Gâseb told Namibian Sun yesterday that the community remains opposed to the expo taking place at this time.
Gâseb said the timing of the expo is inappropriate, citing the onset of winter, ongoing school exams and the fact that no arrests have yet been made in connection with the murders of the girls.
"I do not understand why the mayor is pushing ahead with the expo, because Okahandja is still a crime scene," he said.
He added that while he believes life must return to normal eventually, police should first make arrests to reassure residents of progress in the cases.
Gâseb suggested the council refund investors and postpone the expo until next year.
"I am speaking to some councillors who say that they have warned the mayor, her deputy, and an LPM and PDM councillor that going ahead with the expo will backfire on the council," the activist said.
Pressure from business community
Kotungondo told Namibian Sun yesterday that the mourning period had ended and the town had given the girls a dignified burial.
"We consulted and decided to go ahead with the expo. About 90% of the pressure came from the community members who felt we cannot have a wedding and a funeral," she said.
The mayor added that she was not aware of any formal complaints regarding the expo’s resumption.
She argued that the council had come under pressure from investors, who were demanding refunds if the expo did not take place as planned this year.
According to her, some community members, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), had pestered the council to proceed, saying they wanted to showcase their products.
Kotungondo added that the council did not require permission from the president’s office, as it had been the council’s own decision to postpone the event.
She confirmed that an invitation was extended to Nandi-Ndaitwah, but no response has yet been received.
The mayor indicated that the council was set to meet all stakeholders yesterday to discuss the logistics around the expo.
Community revival
This year's event is themed 'Reviving Okahandja Expo: Empowering Entrepreneurship through Innovation'.
Speaking at the weekend, Kotongondo painted a vibrant picture of the expo, saying they expect local fuel stations to be overwhelmed with customers, local accommodations to be fully booked and a general boost in sales across the town.
Kotongondo urged businesses of all sizes to showcase their innovations.
The municipality has allocated N$551 000 towards the event, though the projected cost is N$815 000.
Various stakeholders have pledged support to bridge the funding gap, with contributions coming from artists, local businesses and corporate sponsors.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article