Windhoek
Windhoek-based businessmen Collin Venaani and Simon Andjamba have entered into multi-million dollar land deals with the Gobabis Municipality in the form of public private partnerships.
Venaani’s Shamrock Holdings received 8 800 square metres of unserviced land, but in terms of the agreement half of the land will be handed to him ‘for free’.
Since Shamrock will not pay for half of the land – which measures 4 400 square metres – it must construct on the other half 10 bachelor flats, six family chalets, a multi-purpose hall, reception office, 12 camp sites and ablution facilities, which will belong to the municipality.
Andjamba on the other hand, through his company Oluzizi Engineering and Construction, was also given land to service and on which to construct houses
His company plans to service 107 plots and construct houses to the combined value of N$8 million.
Another company that also entered into a partnership with the municipality is De Rebus (Pty) Limited and C.H. Electrical CC (DRCH), which will service 137 plots and build houses for N$10 million.
Both Oluzizi and De Rebus bought the plots for N$20 per square metre.
The municipality’s public relations officer Frederich Ueitele yesterday said the deals were clinched last year, adding that the increased demand for houses and financial limitations on the part of council prompted the partnerships.
Concerned residents approached New Era earlier this week questioning the agreement, saying the public was not aware of the municipality’s plans to enter into such agreements.
Others claim that it is unfair for Venaani to get 4 400 square metres “for free”, while community members have to pay.
“This municipality does things without informing the public, after all we are the ones that will be affected,” a resident said.
“We do not even know when last a council meeting was held; other municipalities inform their communities about upcoming meetings but in this town it is a different story.”
“The municipality cannot even write off the debt of the pensioners yet they are giving land away for free,” said the source.
Ueitele said the housing demand forced the municipality to abort its resolution not to sell unserviced land.
Ueitele said Venaani’s investment is estimated to be in the region of N$35 million.
The PRO said the waiting list for the low-cost housing project, Build Together, now stands at 1 000 applications.
“These deals were entered into last year after council put out an expression of interest. Companies applied and did presentations. Council selected those three for the partnership to ensure that houses are availed for our people,” he said.
It seems municipalities and town councils have developed a new way of securing development in their areas of jurisdiction by entering into partnership agreements with private companies.
In July Nampa reported that members of the Kavango Development Progress Forum (KDPF) demanded that the allocation of 85 hectares of identified land to Rundu-based company, Armstrong Construction CC, signed between the company and the Rundu Town Council, be cancelled.
The council in 2013 accepted a public private partnership (PPP) agreement proposed to it by Armstrong Construction CC for the establishment and development of new townships.
The development, which will comprise approximately 600 erven, will be on an identified portion of the remainder of Farm Rundu, town lands No. 1329, situated south of the C45 national road between Rundu and Nkurenkuru.