2013-10-02Mathias Haufiku "RUNDU - The Rundu Town Council is considering demarcating all unoccupied residential plots in the town in an effort to stop residents from occupying vacant land illegally. This follows a recommendation to the town council a week ago, by local authority councillor Reginald Ndara who says there is a need to demarcate vacant plots, because land grabbing and illegal occupation of plots in the town is getting out of control and a keen topic of discussion among residents. “We must start marking and putting up signboards on the unoccupied plots so that we can prohibit people from grabbing land. Those who have done so should be given notices so that they can vacate those plots,” said the councillor. According to him it is high time that the council starts to take action against those occupying land illegally within the town’s boundaries. Ndara believes that demarcating the vacant plots would deter potential land-grabbers from illegally occupying land belonging to the town council. Coming out in support of the recommendation, councillor Sarafina Kandere told her fellow councillors that illegal land acquisitions take place mainly in the newly formalized areas on the outskirts of town. The newly formalised areas include Kaisosi, Kehemu, Ndama, Kasote and Sauyemwa. ""We need to educate our communities, as well as the staff members so that they can report any of these activities to the council,” she urged. Kandere says the illegal grabbing of plots does not take place in the town's industrial area or other locations in town. In July this year, the council served notice on several residents whom it said occupied land within the town’s boundaries without authorization. “The Rundu Town Council has made a discovery that you are occupying a portion of the remainder of Farm Rundu Townlands No.1329 without its authorization,” read the notice. It further stated: “You are hereby given notice to immediately vacate the land you are occupying. Failure to adhere to this notice may cause the Town Council to take legal action.” By Mathias Haufiku " 2013-10-02Mathias Haufiku
