WALVIS BAY – At least 13 274 landless Namibians residing at the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay on Friday applied for land during the countrywide mass land application exercise.
In Walvis Bay, 9 549 people applied while Swakopmund Municipality received 3 725 applications.
Surprisingly, people of all races and colour queued up to submit their applications forms.
New Era also noted that previously advantaged residents also submitted application forms on Friday.
As early as 06h00 on Friday, hundreds of youths lined up at the municipal offices in Walvis Bay waiting for the municipality to receive their applications, while some made use of their lunch time to apply. Others rushed just shortly before closing time to submit their applications.
The mass application process was conducted in a peaceful manner although police officers were deployed to make sure everything proceeded smoothly.
Most applicants were mainly youths although elderly people were also seen applying for land.
Organiser of the mass application at Walvis Bay, Knowledge Ipinge, said they are satisfied with the number of applications. “This was more than what we expected at least for Walvis Bay.”
He said they initially thought only about 5 000 would apply. “Now, we can really see how big the demand for land is,” he said.
When asked why he applied for land, Walvis Bay resident 33-year-old Michael Gabriel said he has been renting for years now and wants a plot where he can build a house for himself.
Alvin Haikonda also from Walvis Bay said he has been renting, “but it has become a expensive process. What I pay for rent I can pay on my own property rather. Government must really regulate home and rental prices so that property can become affordable for all of us”.
Mayor of Swakopmund, Juuso Kambueshe, on Thursday said the Swakopmund Municipality would not prioritise applications for land delivered during the mass application campaign.
Kambueshe said such applications would be placed at the bottom of the existing waiting list. “We will not give special treatment to mass applications. I have no power to do that. Affirmative Repositioning is a distraction; that is what they are,” he stated.
He said the municipality and government already have a plan in place to deal with the housing deficit, particularly for first-time house buyers.
“What is offensive is that people act as if the municipality does not have a plan to provide housing. We have a five-year plan, which started in 2011,” said the mayor.
He explained that their five-year plan is aimed at supplying 200 erven in Swakopmund every year.
– Additional reporting by Nampa