Oshakati
Oshakati Town Council on Monday started demolishing illegal structures erected at Omahenene cemetery in the Uupindi settlement that resulted from the apparent shortage of residential land.
Speaking to New Era on Tuesday, council spokesperson Katarina Kamari said five structures were demolished, but noted she was still waiting for the exact number of shacks to be demolished in total. This is the third time in recent years the council demolished shacks at the settlement.
Residents at Uupindi have been erecting illegal structures at the cemetery over the past four years. Despite tombstones visible and within arm’s reach this did not deter the landless, as more and more illegal shacks have been constructed in the graveyard, which has not been in use since 2012.
When New Era visited the cemetery, the majority of people, including women and children, said the absence of a place to call their own was the main reason for their illegally erecting shacks in the cemetery.
Most of the people there had moved to the town in search of jobs.
Miriam Hamukonda, whose shack was also demolished this week, said she moved there as they were left homeless after the death of her uncle last year. She pleaded with the council to allocate them plots where they can rebuild their homes. While plans to force them off the cemetery are underway, people occupying land illegally in Oshakati have been warned to stop the practice. Kamari said council makes provision for people to apply for land and advised those seeking land at the town to apply and acquire it procedurally.
At the time of going to print, Kamari had not responded to questions about where the relocated residents had been moved to and what happened to the belongings of those who were not present at the time of demolition.
– Additional reporting: nbc