Today (yesterday) on my way to work I was listening to Fresh FM where Job Amupanda and his cohorts were discussing the land issue and their planned mass application to the City of Windhoek. I got the opportunity to fully understand the concept ‘affirmative repositioning – 2014’. And I have to admit it’s a well-thought move and definitely a move in the right direction, without which the status quo will remain unchanged and the situation of high rental fees and property prices will get much, much worse. There were two things that Job mentioned that captured my attention. Let me start off with the more positive critique. Job mentioned that he is of the opinion that the money which was used to fund the mass housing programme should have been better used to service huge amount of plots so that each and every individual can build his/her own house. That I’m in full-agreement with as I’m of the opinion that the mass housing programme benefits only a few and make even fewer well-connected individuals get rich overnight. Secondly, Job mentioned that there always has been the option at CoW for any Namibian to apply for an erf in Windhoek. This information, he said, was kept away from home-seekers. I was also in full agreement with him on that as not many were aware of that option including me before this revelation. Job however on the other had known about it way before, as he applied for an erf two years ago in Wanaheda, Windhoek. My concern is, why hasn’t Job informed all of us back then when he came to learn about it and not only a few days before election? Should I trust Job that his sudden call for accessibility of land to all is that of genuine national interest and not that of political oppotunism? Furthermore, if Job’s application for the erf in Wanaheda would’ve been approved timeously would he still been spearheading this national campaign for accessibility to land for all of us. I would never know that now, would I?
Nicolette Pieters
Windhoek