WINDHOEK- Councillor of the Windhoek Rural Constituency, Arie Frederick, is of the view that reaching communities within that constituency would be easier if it is divided into two.

Speaking to New Era on Monday, Frederick lamented that he drives up to 100 kilometres from his constituency office at Groot Aub to reach many of his constituents. Windhoek Rural Constituency houses settlements in the Khomas Region that are outside the City of Windhoek.

These include Aris, Brakwater, Dordabis, Groot Aub, Mix, Nauchas, Nina, Seeis and Solitaire.

“The distance between the office and the surrounding places is too much. I try my outmost best but it’s so difficult,” Frederick narated .

He was responding to questions by New Era on the status quo of the big constituency that he has headed since 2004.

In addition, he bemoaned the lack of financial resources that constituency councillors have to work with, saying that most of the budget that comes from the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development is used for operational purposes.

If constituencies had their own budgets, said Frederick, developing those constituencies and reaching to communities would be easier.

“The money is spent mostly on salaries, maintenance of cars and those things. We are forced to prioritise with what is left. If we can in future have our own budgets, we will solve most of the problems in the community,” maintained the councillor. 

Frederick also explained that land scarcity remains a concern. “We want to alleviate poverty but if there is no land for the people in the constituency, we cannot produce food,” said the councillor.

Commercial farms take up most of the land, he added.  “It is difficult to penetrate the area in order to find out what the needs of the people are because commercial farms are mostly private property,” he said.

Frederick said people who work for commercial farmers find it difficult to participate in observing national days, voters’ registration and voting.

This is mainly because of the distance they have to travel and also because their employees do not always allow visitors on their land.

“The law should be amended to make provisions for the protection of evicted farm workers maybe only then will evictions decrease,” said Frederick.