WALVIS BAY – Backyard squatters of Walvis Bay want the new cemetery in Narraville to be moved to Farm 37 to free up much-needed land and address the housing crisis the town is experiencing.
At least 36 000 housing units are needed at the town, where over 50 000 people either live in shacks or rental properties.
The group yesterday protested for land, saying the Walvis Bay municipal council failed to address the housing crisis, despite occupying office for three years.
“The land they earmarked for the new cemetery must be freed for housing. How do you prioritise dead people at the expense of the living? It must go to Farm 37. We are living human beings; we must be allocated extensions even – eight or nine. These extensions are much closer to schools and hospitals,” spokesperson of the group Immanuel Festus said yesterday.
Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes during the first council meeting indicated that 50 beneficiaries will be moved to Farm 37 soon.
This did not sit well with backyard squatters, who have been patiently waiting for the decongestion programme that is expected to move over 2 000 squatters to Farm 37.
“We, the residents of Walvis Bay, have been hearing about Farm 37 for far too long; yet, there are no tangible and fruitful results three years down the lane. We thought the previous council was to be blamed, but it became clear that there is a contagious disease of hating poor residents of Walvis Bay, particularly backyard tenants,” Festus said.
According to Festus, the housing crisis of Walvis Bay is not taken seriously, as only a few councillors are affected by the housing backlog.
He then accused some of the councillors of benefitting from the housing crisis through rental properties they own.
“Hence, motions regarding housing backlog are either put on hold, dismissed or postponed indefinitely. The current council has been in the driving seat for three years now. They only have two years before their term expires. It is saddening to learn that so far, only 50 beneficiaries are planned to be relocated to Farm 37,” Festus said.
They are now demanding that the council showcases determination to decongest
Kuisebmund, reduce the housing backlog and allocate Extension 7 in Narraville free of charge to them.
According to them, they will mobilise funds to service such land at their own cost.
They also want council to allow them to occupy such land while they wait to develop it. Receiving the petition on behalf of council, deputy mayor of Walvis Bay Saara Mutondoka said this type of engagement is welcomed by council, as they believe in an open door policy.
“Council is serious about land delivery; your petition will be tabled and discussed at council, and the outcome will be shared with you,” she said.