WINDHOEK – The opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has accused the Swakopmund Town Council of trying to sell a prime piece of land in Swakopmund for a paltry N$30 000 to the Swapo Party. The land in question is worth N$2.6 million the opposition party alleges. RDP parliamentarian, Anton von Wietersheim, on Tuesday tabled a notice in which he posed a question to the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, (Rtd) Major General Charles Namoloh, on whether he had received any request from the Swakopmund Town Council to approve the alienation of a property in a prime location at the coastal town valued at N$2.6 million in 2010 for the sum of N$30 000 to the Swapo Party.
“Swakopmund Town Council seems to have amended some of their local authority regulations solely and specifically with the intent to facilitate the dubious transaction, which it submitted to the ministry before,” Von Wietersheim alleges.
The MP said he asked Namoloh’s predecessor, Jerry Ekandjo, about the intended sale in 2012, but has received no answer until now. He wants to know whether Namoloh is aware that the Swapo Party is attempting to buy the plot measuring 4463 square metres at the expense of the majority of suffering residents, especially DRC residents.
He further wants Namoloh to consider the legality of the decision by the town council.
“The decision by the town council places the interests of the Swapo Party squarely above the interests of the Swakopmund ratepayers and those that suffer from a lack of development,” he charged.
According to him the revenue that will be generated if the property is sold at market price could do wonders in terms of additional funding for land servicing and alleviating the housing plight of many residents.
By Mathias Haufiku