Windhoek
David Kafula, the son of former Windhoek mayor Agnes Kafula, has denied claims that either he or his company, Elimwena Investments, received any preferential treatment in the allocation of a prime plot in Klein Windhoek.
Kafula and Tuliikeni Ndadi co-own Elimwena Investments, which reportedly was given the green light, while his mother headed the Winhoek City Council, to acquire erf R/875 in Klein Windhoek, measuring about 4 200 square metres.
However, the acquisition was put on hold by the council after sustained media reports questioned the credibility of the allocation process.
The council has yet to decide if the controversial deal will go ahead. Agnes Kafula is no longer Windhoek mayor, after taking up a seat in the National Assembly early this year.
In a statement released yesterday, David Kafula dismissed reports published last year that he received the much sought-after land about five months after enquiring about the application process with then Windhoek Municipality CEO Niilo Taapopi.
“On the contrary, we had commissioned a town planner, Mrs Rita Khiba, nearly two years earlier to do the application on our company’s behalf,” he said.
He added that the first application for the property was made on March 20, 2013, followed by a presentation to the council on October 14, 2013, after which it took nearly two years to receive a positive response from the municipality.
In reaction to reports that the council could have earned N$8 million if the land had been auctioned, Kafula confirmed that the council charged his company N$5 712 000 for the property, excluding tax, which he says is the original evaluation of the property as done by the city strategic executive: urban planning and property management.
Kafula also denied claims that the idea of constructing a revolving restaurant on the property was stolen from another individual who had applied for the same plot.
“The requirement of a revolving restaurant came from the municipality. We initially planned on opening up only a restaurant but the municipality had an existing council resolution of 1993 that required that the restaurant be a revolving one,” read Kafula’s statement.
Upon enquiry from this newspaper Kafula said that together with a local investor his company intends investing between N$30 million and N$35 million on the revolving restaurant.
“The idea that we were treated as some sort of ‘special’ favoured applicant is completely and utterly inaccurate,” said Kafula.
“Yes, my mother, Agnes Kafula, was the mayor at the time. Does this mean I should not take part in applying for a plot simply because my mother is the mayor?” asked Kafula.
At the time of the contentious plot allocation, Agnes Kafula denied any wrongdoing, adding there was no clause in the Local Authorities Act that restricted councillors’ children and relatives from participating in the work of municipalities.
Moreover, local media reported that the council awarded the plot to Kafula even though Pooven Moodley applied for the same plot as far back as 1995 and again in 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
However, the council reportedly rejected Moodley’s applications as his company was not yet a registered entity in Namibia.
“As mentioned in the council resolution, the other company is not a registered entity and only undertook to register as a close corporation should council have allocated the property to it. With that being said, the council’s reasoning for not awarding the plot to the other party has absolutely nothing to do with Elimwena Investments Group cc and seemed guided by what would be best for council,” added Kafula.
“The municipality chose to support our initiative and enthusiasm. Yet some claim it should again go out on tender or auction so that those who had shown no interest over the intervening 22 years, since the council resolution of 1993, might be brought [in on the matter]. Should the land have gone out on auction we may have stood little chance against any major developer with an established business, should one have shown interest,” admitted Kafula.