By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa
WINDHOEK – The Acting Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Dr Vetumbuavi Veii, yesterday served an eviction notice on the Secretary General (SG) of the Oruuano Namibian Artists Union, Vincent Mwemba, for illegally erecting several shacks at the Independence Arena in Windhoek.
The eviction notice reads, “You and all the private and business concerns which have illegally been renting space from you are hereby instructed to vacate the Independence Arena and remove all temporary dwellings with immediate effect, the 13th of December 2013 being issued as a final deadline before legal action is taken.”
However, the calm looking Mwemba told New Era yesterday that he is not ready to move unless unless he is informed of the new place to relocate to. “As I told you earlier, I am lawfully here, so if the ministry can tell me where to go I will then move, otherwise we are all Namibians, so we can talk,” he said.
Mwemba said he would look into the eviction order and then call the media to tell his part of the story.
“As you can see this is a one-sided story, you will hear my side of the story soon,” he emphasised.
Mwemba took advantage of the present acute housing shortage in Windhoek by turning the Independence Arena, which is meant for hosting musical and cultural events, into his private cash cow by erecting several iron-sheet shacks for rent inside the arena. His illicit business includes a flourishing eatery. He faces forceful eviction if he does not remove his shacks within two weeks.
New Era last week reported that Mwemba generates revenue from at least ten tenants who rent the shacks that he erected illegally inside the venue.
Mwemba erected the shacks without seeking permission from the government, the legal owner of the arena.
The shacks had gone undetected because they are cleverly disguised and blend in almost seamlessly with the wall of the Independence Arena.