Auleria Wakudumo
Ondangwa town council has clarified that the plot on which Huhu City operates is a privately-owned land, legally acquired in 2004. The council said the current process relates only to the formal registration of the remaining portion after road construction and replanning and not the allocation or donation of a new plot.
Town spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho said the property has long been in private hands and predates the owner’s involvement in local politics.
“The plot in question is where the current huhu city, a business belonging to our former mayor Paavo Amwele is located. The former mayor has the tittle deed to this plot which was obtained legally in 2004 before he became a mayor of Ondangwa town,” she said. Shitalangaho explained that in 2016, the council resolved to improve access to the Ondjondjo Open Market by opening new routes and developing road infrastructure in the area. This process affected several properties in the then Onguta area, and were compensated to allow for the construction of a new open market and roads connecting the markets to the main road from the Oluno traffic lights.
An additional road was also constructed between the plot in question and Erf 1235 to further improve access.
“As a result of these developments, portions of land, including part of the Huhu City Erf, were required for public roads. This led to a comprehensive replanning of the area, which has since been completed,” she explained. The replanning formally recognises the newly constructed roads and resulted in the creation of new erven with revised sizes.
Shitalangaho noted that Huhu City has been operating in the area for many years and that it is a fully built-up business zone. With the replanning now finalised, the council said that a formal legal process must follow to register the remaining portion of the plot on which the business continues to operate, as required by law. This process was recently advertised in the media.
She further explained that the term ‘donation’ is the only term that can be used in these instances because he is not buying the plot that is his already, but formality should be followed for him to register the remainder of his plot where his business is after paving the way for the above roads construction.