Cabinet still has to decide on property near State House

THE future of private property in the immediate vicinity of the new State House complex in Windhoek’s hilly Auasblick remains unknown.

Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab told the National Assembly on Thursday that the matter was still subject to Cabinet discussion and that he could not immediately answer questions posed by the Monitor Action Group’s Kosie Pretorius. “It would be unwise and premature as the Prime Minister to engage in fruitless and speculative discussion [on the matter],” Gurirab told the House.He said Cabinet’s decision would be made known through the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.Early in September, Pretorius asked Government what its plans were regarding the expropriation of private residential property near the new State House.Pretorius wanted to know when exactly Cabinet endorsed a decision to expropriate private property, the cost to the State if it were to expropriate the property, as well as whether property owners had been ordered to stop any further developments.On three occasions, Government requested a postponement in answering Pretorius’ questions.After Thursday’s question time, the opposition were still in the dark on the matter.In August last year, Government informed about 50 property owners that they would be forced to sell their property in the interest of creating a security cordon around the new State House complex still under construction.They have heard nothing more since.At an auction last month, the City of Windhoek held several plots back from being sold because they could possibly form part of the security zone.Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing Joel Kaapanda also put off answering questions by the DTA’s Johan de Waal on the non-compliance by the Ramatex Textile Factory on its agreement with the City of Windhoek.The question has stood over for several weeks because of Kaapanda’s absence from the House.On Thursday the Minister said De Waal’s questions had been overtaken by events.”It would be unwise and premature as the Prime Minister to engage in fruitless and speculative discussion [on the matter],” Gurirab told the House.He said Cabinet’s decision would be made known through the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.Early in September, Pretorius asked Government what its plans were regarding the expropriation of private residential property near the new State House.Pretorius wanted to know when exactly Cabinet endorsed a decision to expropriate private property, the cost to the State if it were to expropriate the property, as well as whether property owners had been ordered to stop any further developments.On three occasions, Government requested a postponement in answering Pretorius’ questions.After Thursday’s question time, the opposition were still in the dark on the matter.In August last year, Government informed about 50 property owners that they would be forced to sell their property in the interest of creating a security cordon around the new State House complex still under construction.They have heard nothing more since.At an auction last month, the City of Windhoek held several plots back from being sold because they could possibly form part of the security zone.Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing Joel Kaapanda also put off answering questions by the DTA’s Johan de Waal on the non-compliance by the Ramatex Textile Factory on its agreement with the City of Windhoek.The question has stood over for several weeks because of Kaapanda’s absence from the House.On Thursday the Minister said De Waal’s questions had been overtaken by events.