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Onawa residents demand ablution facilities

2022-04-29  Aletta Shikololo

Onawa residents demand ablution facilities

The residents of Onawa village, to where Oshakati Town Council is relocating residents from other informal settlements, are against the council’s action, which they said was done in haste. 

Residents said the council was first supposed to put up toilet facilities and a satellite police station before settling thousands of people. 

The relocation of the informal settlers is said to have brought crime, as well as environmental and noise pollution, including flowing sewage to their village.

This week, the council resumed with the relocation of over 800 residents of Kalaula, Oshimbangu-Solar Plant and Oshoopala Phase 1 to Onawa village.

The relocation is part of its five-year strategic plan to eliminate informal settlements.

The residents of those three locations are the third priority area for the relocation after residents of the Eemwandi location were relocated in 2019 and the Sky location in 2021.

“During consultations with the council, they told us they want to bring development in our area but they tricked us because they turned our village into a shebeen. There is too much noise in the area, and we have never been at peace since they were moved. The town council was supposed to simply tell us the truth that they wanted to bring the shantytown here. That way, we could have decided if we wanted to stay or relocate somewhere out of town,” said Eliser Ndevaanyena, a resident of Onawa village.

Ndevaanyena complained that when the council relocated the previous group in 2019 and 2021, they did not put up sewage lines, so the settlers relieved themselves in their fields.

“Not only are they forced to help themselves in our mahangu fields because there are no toilets but they also damage our crops, steal our produce and our livestock at night,” he lamented.

Another resident complained their safety is now compromised, and requested the council to set up a police station in the area.

“Those settlements were already crime hotspots in Oshakati, so we don’t feel safe in our homes anymore,” said a resident, who asked for anonymity.

The residents are in the process of organising a lawyer to legally represent them.

During the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years, the council invested N$25 million in the servicing of land at Onawa village.

The servicing was to provide water lines, electricity, access to the main road as well as residential plots for low- and middle-income earners.

Speaking at a media briefing this week, mayor Leornard Hango said he is aware of condemnation but urged residents of Onawa to remain calm.

“Low-income earners and people from informal settlements are prone to cause most crimes but we are urging community members to report all criminal activities to their nearby police station,” he said.

Hango further assured that the council will construct six temporary public toilets to be used by relocated residents.

Meanwhile, the council is also in the process of securing funds for constructing a sewer treatment plant and sewerage lines.

- ashikololo@nepc.com.na

 


2022-04-29  Aletta Shikololo

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