WINDHOEK – The Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, (Rtd) Major General Charles Namoloh, has vowed to punish the culprits responsible for the single quarters houses at Omaruru worth over N$2 million having to be demolished.
Thirty new single quarters houses at Omaruru that cost over N$2 million of taxpayers’ money face demolition because officials fear being sued if the poorly constructed houses cause death or injury to the tenants.
The houses that could be demolished over poor workmanship fall under the low-cost housing scheme of the Build Together project.
But the demolition could have a backlash from town residents, the majority of whom live in shacks because they cannot afford a decent house.
The Omaruru Municipality last week decided to demolish the houses due to sub-standard work.
But Namoloh said he did not receive any report on the matter yet, but promised to get to the bottom of the issue.
“We need to investigate and find out who the culprit is. If we find that the local contractor has built sub-standard houses, then he must account for the money government paid. We can’t waste money like that. We will also find out why the houses were not inspected before they were handed over and before the payment was made,” stated the minister.
The construction of the 30 houses took place between 2006 and 2009 for the first phase, and between 2010 and 2013 for the second phase.
A local contractor Omaruru-Walkway Trading CC who built the houses has already been paid more than N$2.2 million by the government.
The Omaruru Municipality caretaker Linus //Garoeb told Nampa in an interview last Thursday that the new houses would be demolished because “they are of sub-standard construction”.
It is alleged the contractor built the houses based on the specifications which were outlined to him by the Omaruru Municipality.
The same contractor was awarded other construction tenders by the municipality where hundreds need houses.
//Garoeb is a retired chief regional officer of the Erongo Regional Council, and was appointed to manage the affairs of the Omaruru Municipality in December 2013, after the suspension of the Omaruru local authority councillors.
He was appointed by the regional and local government minister to oversee and administer all affairs at the beleaguered municipality.
The Omaruru local authority councillors were suspended by Namoloh after they allegedly failed to implement recommendations from his office.
The seven suspended councillors, the majority of whom are from minority parties, are Vincent Kahua from the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO); Albertus !Naruseb of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); Christiaan Nanuseb from the United Democratic Front (UDF); the late Cretensia Garises from the RDP; and Johannes Hamutenya, Hendrina Gebhardt and Phillip Nghipandulwa from Swapo.
On December 24, 2013 the Omaruru chief executive officer Paul Ganaseb was also suspended.
Meanwhile, Omaruru residents on Friday expressed concern about the decision of the municipality to demolish the houses.
Magdalena Tjikuere, who resides adjacent to the new houses in Ozondje residential area, said //Garoeb’s office “is simply useless”.
“How can they waste public money like that? By building the houses, millions of dollars were spent. And now millions of dollars will be spent again to destroy these same houses. This is unacceptable. It must be stopped,” thundered Tjikuere.
Tjikuere added that this all seems like a deliberate attempt to shame the suspended councillors who did a “good job” in building houses for the people living in shacks.
A resident of the old single quarters, Titus Amashali, said about 25 people, including him, were prepared to move into their newly-built houses before the end of this year. He said the situation at the single quarters were unbearable due to the unhygienic conditions, overcrowding, drug dealing, loud music and the abuse of traditional brew.
“Something must be done. We don’t want to stay there anymore. We are tired of sweeping up used condoms and the smell of urine is overwhelming,”said Amashali.
Single quarters committee chairperson, Markus David, said all the 30 newly-built houses earmarked for demolition were nearing completion.
David accused the Omaruru Municipality of failing to prevent community members stealing zinc sheets, doors, windows, door and window frames as well as sewage and water pipelines from the newly-built houses, as they were not guarded.
Approached for comment on Friday, the Omaruru corporate and community development officer, Ephraim Katjatenja, said the municipalitywould pronounce itself on the matter once all the information has been readied for the public.
By yesterday, the houses were still standing as confirmed by the municipality acting chief executive officer Penda Nghaamwa.
• Additional reporting by Nampa