KATIMA MULILO – Katima Mulilo Town Mayor Charles Matengu has dismissed accusations that the town council has failed to make provision for residential plots despite being budgeted for by his predecessor.
He was reacting to an opinion piece that appeared in this newspaper accusing the town council of having misappropriated money meant for the development and servicing of plots for residents.
Matengu who in turn accused the anonymous writer of the letter that appeared in last week’s Friday edition of misleading the public, stated that the process of developing and servicing plots was ongoing.
“One Lux development responsibility was to formalise informal settlements and they could not finish by the time they left in mid-2011. So we carried on where they left off,” he said .
He was referering to the development agency that was tasked with formalisation of informal settlements which ceased operations in 2011.
“Last year we began installing water pipes and taps in informal settlements. This work will be finished soon and we even drilled three boreholes in informal settlements to reduce the high cost of water for residents,” he said.
On residential plots, Matengu noted that demarcations have been done and listed a number of proposed new plots meant to reverse the shortage of residential land in Katima Mulilo.
“Plots at the river side have been demarcated. We have approved the servicing of over 300 plots in Chotto, 240 new plots along the Ngoma road, 845 plots in an area adjacent to Katima cemetery, 300 proposed plots between Chotto and Mafuta and over 650 proposed plots near NHE. We are hard at work and people should not just go on misinforming others,” stated an irate Matengu.
He showed this reporter a list of council projects which form part of the major development drive for the town. Among these was the renovation of council offices for N$12 million, the installation of a sewerage network in the Chotto informal settlement, the 327 houses as part of the mass housing scheme, and project and water reticulation in informal settlements among others.
According to Matengu the town has changed drastically compared to before.
“The face of Katima Mulilo has changed and improved since 2011. We spent N$20 million to tar Dr Sam Nujoma Street and revamping the hospital road. Some roads in Ngweze, NHE and Boma are also being tarred,” said Matengu.
He challenged the opinion piece writer to attend council meetings that he says are open to the public in order to get more clarity.
“I have always announced that our meetings are open to the public irrespective of their background. Anyone can attend our meetings where we give you the right to air your concerns without fear. The council which is made up of members or councillors is the one that allocates and endorses proposed development not the mayor. Without a quorum, no decision can be reached,” said Matengu.
In the letter the writer alleges the previous council budgeted residential plots for lower, middle and higher income groups but that money for those plots remain unaccounted for.