Land grabbing has become a thorn in the flesh of the local authority of Rehoboth following the illegal occupation of land in January by scores of residents at the town. New Era’s Magreth Nunuhe spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of the town council, Theodor Jankowski, to find out the reasons behind this act of civic defiance.
NEW ERA (NE): Would you describe the recent land grabbing in Rehoboth a serious problem, and if so, why is it the case?
THEODOR JANKOWSKI (TJ): Yes, it is true. Rehoboth is experiencing a big problem with illegal land grabbing. Currently there is a huge backlog in the provision of housing in Rehoboth. We need about plus-minus 3 000 serviced erven to alleviate our housing problems. We have already completed the redtape procedures in order to have 496 erven available.
These erven have been planned, surveyed and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was completed and will be allocated in two weeks, but the erven are without services. Those residents who sincerely need land to legitimately accommodate their families are co-operating with council to find a solution. The council will issue a statement in this regard soon.
NE: How severe is the problem of land grabbing in Rehoboth?
TJ: Plus-minus 250 residents illegally grabbed land in the so-called Kuvukiland area. There is evidence that some political leaders, Swapo and opposition, instigated residents to grab land. It was with shock and disbelief that we learned through the printed and electronic media about the statements of the Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement [Theo Diergaardt] that, male residents who were born and turned 18 in Rehoboth before independence are still entitled to their free erven, 24 years after independence.
This statement is unconstitutional. It sows confusion and disunity among the various ethnic groups here and can only lead to anarchy. Maybe, Hon. Theo Diergaardt has better information as a lawmaker or did he make the statement in his personal capacity?
NE: What is the rate of influx of people into Rehoboth – in terms of numbers per year?
TJ: I do not have the exact figures, but it could be more than a thousand people per year or even more.
NE: What can be done to prevent illegal land?
TJ: After independence, Cabinet endorsed the Rukoro Report in 1992 and resolved, that the provision of 3 000 free unserviced erven to those displaced Namibians has to be honoured, and has also approved that the ministry (MRLGH & RD) together with the Rehoboth Town Council make available 2500 free unserviced erven to those residents who have documentary proof under the Baster Paternal Law, of having been allocated free erven. Not everyone who turned 18 before independence is entitled to free erven, but only those who have written proof from the regime before independence. This notion only fuels land grabbing.
The reality is that if we implement the Rukoro Report in its totality the town boundary will expand by almost 100 percent. Currently Rehoboth has got plus-minus 6 000 residential erven.
The Rukoro Report involved 5500 erven. Previous councils [leaders] could only allocate 316 erven in the past to residents in terms of the Rukoro Report. Once the council has allocated the abovementioned 496 erven to residents, another block of erven will be planned and surveyed and so we will continue. However, the financial implications to execute the Rukoro Report are huge and unfortunately the report does not indicate how it will be funded. The council appeals to residents to be calm and patient in the meantime.
NE: A company called Hydraform Interlocking Building Solution based in Rehoboth claims that it can build houses cheaply starting from N$30 000 for a one-bedroom house up to N$100 000 for a four-bedroom house and are also prepared to service the land. They say that they have also made contact with the Rehoboth municipality for the possibility of a public private partnership. Are you aware of their existence, and if so, what is the municipality’s position vis à vis” that company?
TJ: The company, Hydroform Interlocking Building Solutions visited me on 28 January 2014. They submitted a business proposal to my office. As a youth initiative, this proposal will be forwarded to the next presentation slot of council. The company will then have the opportunity to present their case to council. As yet, we don’t have any agreement with Hydroform Interlocking Building Solutions.
NE: But what is your general perception of that company?
TJ: We need initiatives like this to lower the cost of housing. We should support those kinds of efforts. At this stage they are little too optimistic, if you take labour and other costs into consideration, but it is a positive thing. I am still waiting for them to send me another request to make a presentation to council.
NE: They have offered to service land. Will that not bring relief to the town council?
TJ: It boils down to public private partnership (PPP). We will look into that and see if they can bring in investors willing to service land. That will be a good thing. It can be a ‘yes’ if they find reliable investors. It will also indirectly advantage the municipality, because if they build houses, we will benefit through land taxes, water and electricity. It is an indirect advantage we get for life.
By Magreth Nunuhe