Aroab residents tired of being backyard dwellers

• SHAROLDINE BOCKRESIDENTS of Aroab, a small village in southern Namibia, are demanding land for the development of an informal settlement.

Many of these residents are unemployed and cannot afford land or houses.

These circumstances and the lack of an informal settlement at Aroab have forced some residents to settle in overcrowded houses or backyard shacks.

Magrieta Esau (28) lives in a small one-bedroomed house with six other people.

“Sometimes up to 10 people live in one house. It is unhealthy, especially nowadays with Covid-19,” she says.

Barry Losper, another resident, also wants land.

“I am 42 years old, but am still living at my mother’s house. I also want to live in my own place,” he says.

Residents, assisted by the Aroab Concerned Committee, have been asking the Aroab Village Council for an informal settlement since last year.

This request was made through several letters and demonstrations, but has yielded no results, Vincent Hartung, a member of the Aroab Concerned Committee, says.

“They said they would apply for government funds, but still haven’t done so. They said they would apply to the constituency councillor, but didn’t do it. They are always delaying everything at Aroab,” Hartung said on Friday.

He accused village council chief executive officer (CEO) Elsa Laubscher of causing the delay.

“The councillors are split by the CEO, and that’s the problem,” he said.

Jan Jobs, the chairperson of the Aroab Concerned Committee, claims the village council opposes an informal settlement because they say it will ruin the image of the village.

“The current council must provide land for us. There is enough space at Aroab. When land is available, the community will become responsible because they have their own houses,” he says.

Laubscher and chairperson of the village council, Erica Minnies, declined to comment on Friday.

However, a letter sent by Laubscher last Wednesday, which has been seen by The Namibian, stated they have identified a piece of land.

The land would, however, not be available immediately due to cost implications.

The letter further reads that the council would reach out to the ministerial trust fund to request funds, and to the regional councillor for assistance.

Village councillor Andrew de Jay on Friday said the development of the land is expected to start in about three to four months.

“We will try to bring people out of the backyards to also have ownership of their own houses, which would also benefit the council through the payment of municipal bills.”

He confirmed the delay after the first two demonstrations, saying the council did not respond.

De Jay also confirmed the lack of cooperation among councillors.

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