Arovlei ‘secret’ no secret, but it’s secret for now: Defence

THE Ministry of Defence yesterday maintained that it had informed the Arovlei community about a Ministry building being erected in their midst, but pleaded for patience before it tells them again.

Members of the small farming community say they have pleaded with Government for answers on the ‘mysterious’ building since 2006, when construction started. According to residents, information gleaned from unofficial sources indicates that the controversial structure may be an intended ammunitions factory.Arovlei is situated next to Oamites along the Windhoek-Rehoboth road.Approached for comment, Defence spokesperson Margaret Amagulu rejected claims by the community that they had not been informed before Government decided to allow a Chinese construction company to start building there.The Windhoek-based Amagulu yesterday rejected residents’ claims that the building was being put up in their midst – the community was resettled on communal land in the area.She maintained that the site formed part of the Oamites military base neighbouring their area.”The community was informed a long time ago, so I don’t know why they are saying this now,” she said.Asked for proof of this, she would only say that the Ministry’s investigation of a query by The Namibian confirmed her statement.”We investigated and we found that they had been told.Whenever Government does something, whatever it does, they do inform the people or communities affected,” she said.What the community was told, however, remains a mystery for now – Amagulu is calling for patience.”It’s not really a secrecy issue.But they must just remain patient.We will inform the community there, and the public as well, in due time,” she said.Community members on Sunday held a meeting to which they invited Government representatives to brief them on what is going on, but that meeting was adjourned without any answers being provided after Government officials snubbed their invitation.Many of Arovlei’s small population are pensioners.They were moved from their previous home at !Oa//gaexas near the Daan Viljoen nature reserve more than a decade ago.According to the Arovlei Farmers Association (AFA), who formally represent the community, fear is rife among the community that they may be forced to move again.According to residents, information gleaned from unofficial sources indicates that the controversial structure may be an intended ammunitions factory.Arovlei is situated next to Oamites along the Windhoek-Rehoboth road.Approached for comment, Defence spokesperson Margaret Amagulu rejected claims by the community that they had not been informed before Government decided to allow a Chinese construction company to start building there.The Windhoek-based Amagulu yesterday rejected residents’ claims that the building was being put up in their midst – the community was resettled on communal land in the area.She maintained that the site formed part of the Oamites military base neighbouring their area.”The community was informed a long time ago, so I don’t know why they are saying this now,” she said.Asked for proof of this, she would only say that the Ministry’s investigation of a query by The Namibian confirmed her statement.”We investigated and we found that they had been told.Whenever Government does something, whatever it does, they do inform the people or communities affected,” she said.What the community was told, however, remains a mystery for now – Amagulu is calling for patience.”It’s not really a secrecy issue.But they must just remain patient.We will inform the community there, and the public as well, in due time,” she said.Community members on Sunday held a meeting to which they invited Government representatives to brief them on what is going on, but that meeting was adjourned without any answers being provided after Government officials snubbed their invitation.Many of Arovlei’s small population are pensioners.They were moved from their previous home at !Oa//gaexas near the Daan Viljoen nature reserve more than a decade ago.According to the Arovlei Farmers Association (AFA), who formally represent the community, fear is rife among the community that they may be forced to move again.