Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Town councils struggle with communal landowners

Town councils struggle with communal landowners

OMUTHIYA – The Oniipa and Omuthiya town councils have expressed concern over the high amount of compensation communal landowners are demanding or seeking to develop the land independently.

During a meeting of the National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Housing held in Omuthiya on Wednesday, the Oniipa Town Council’s Property and Land Management officer, Rebekka Nuule, said communal landowners feel the compensation offered by the council is insufficient, and this often leads to disputes.

“For instance, the owner of property valued at around N$600 000 will demand N$20 million for it, or say they will look for developers so that they can develop it and build houses themselves,” said Nuule.

She said communal landowners are increasingly becoming reluctant to sell their land to the council, prefer to subdivide it, erect structures, and sell plots directly to individuals.

Oniipa was proclaimed a town in 2015, and currently has seven extensions.

Omuthiya Town Council CEO Petrus Shuuya also said the authority was facing challenges with compensation for land occupied by traditional homesteads.

“We still have land that is occupied by homesteads that we need to compensate people for, and the compensation fund is not coming forth. It is causing a lot of land issues now as some people are subdividing the land for their children,” said Shuuya.

He also highlighted concerns over the increasing construction of expensive houses on townlands, which could lead to the town council having to purchase the land at inflated prices.

Additionally, there are complaints from landowners who feel they are being inadequately compensated and prefer to donate land to their beneficiaries.

The meeting sought to address the challenges of land and housing delivery in urban areas. -Nampa