GOCHAS – Acting Gochas village council CEO Patricia Ipinge said despite the myriad challenges they face, the local authority is on the right developmental trajectory.
She made these remarks during New Era’s recent visit to the village, situated 110 km east of Gibeon in the Hardap region. The publication sought to touch base with the executive about developmental and other burning issues that residents battle with daily.
Chiefly, she responded that the Road Fund Administration has completed laying interlocks in the Gomxab residential areas to a cost of N$831 000 during the previous financial year. “The project has been administered by the council, and created employment for 20 local residents,” she said.
She also pointed to the sewerage project in the town as one that could not be completed during the period under review. “The main contributing challenges were the hard rocks to dig trenches, and lack of funding,” she said.
Another challenge is the vandalisation of oxidation ponds.
“We received an amount of N$5 million from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development during the previous financial year, but the total cost to successfully complete the project will be N$6 million,” she said. She added that the line ministry has, in the meantime, carried out a cost analysis prior to providing more funding, and furthermore advised the village council to first complete the project before identifying others.
Another project that was completed is that of a water treatment plan to rehabilitate existing boreholes at a cost of N$4 million.
“Council is also on small-scale farming with cattle on its townlands, from which the heifers are sold during auctions whilst also renting out land and grazing (paying per head of livestock) to small-scale farmers as a means of generating more income,” she said.
They are also refurbishing the rest camp for tourists making use of accommodation facilities to generate additional income.
In his contribution, village council chairperson Arnold Bezuidenhoudt said to counter the challenge of non-payment of water and electricity provision by unemployed and impoverished residents, the council has erected pre-paid meters at strategic points in the residential areas, whereby they can make use of these services on a basis of affordability.
“Arrangements are also in place with NamWater and NamPower in terms of outstanding debts that we honour accordingly, thus preventing the fear of a disconnection of these basic services,” he added. The chairperson, who is on the ticket of the Landless Peoples Movement, said in addressing the high unemployment rate in the village, they are taking in casual workers on a three-month rotation basis.
Furthermore, a resettlement farm, Sendelingshoop, will be allocated in due course to the National Youth Services for training.
He added: “Council is also busy with a project in servicing 300 erven for potential buyers to get land ownership, whereby they will pay a 10% deposit towards an affordable price, and settle the outstanding amount within a period not exceeding 24 months”.