City Council stumped by ‘Herero Mall’

WINDHOEK city councillors are in a fix over what to do about the open space next to the Red Flag Commando hall in Katutura.

More than 30 illegal vendors, shebeens and car-wash outlets have sprung up, and high noise levels, crime and unhygienic conditions are the order of the day. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, a decision on whether to sell part of the area to the Ovaherero Traditional Authority and for the municipality to retain the other section to develop into a market was referred to next year.Councillors from the different political parties debated at length and in circles, accusing each other of ‘hidden agendas’.Councillor Benestus Kandundu said the views of residents and traders should be heard before a decision was taken.Councillor Boas Ekandjo said it was unfair to remove the 39 illegal businesses “and the land to be taken by the City.”The plot is, however, municipal land.Councillor Bjoern von Finckenstein then poured oil on troubled waters and explained that the Hosea Kutako Foundation had bought the plot a few years ago, but then was in arrears with the monthly payments.The Ovaherero Traditional Authority then applied recently to buy the land.”The Authority is not a tribal authority but a registered company,” Von Finckenstein explained.Despite this explanation some councillors did not want to “rush into” a decision to let the City keep half of the land and sell the rest to the company.”Some of us went to the ‘Herero Mall’ to see for ourselves what is going on there and we were shocked about the conditions,” Councillor Werner Claassen said.”How could the municipal authorities allow all these illegal ‘businesses’ to spring up, tapping electricity illegally?” he wanted to know.It was then decided to let the matter stand over until January for more discussion.At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, a decision on whether to sell part of the area to the Ovaherero Traditional Authority and for the municipality to retain the other section to develop into a market was referred to next year.Councillors from the different political parties debated at length and in circles, accusing each other of ‘hidden agendas’.Councillor Benestus Kandundu said the views of residents and traders should be heard before a decision was taken.Councillor Boas Ekandjo said it was unfair to remove the 39 illegal businesses “and the land to be taken by the City.”The plot is, however, municipal land.Councillor Bjoern von Finckenstein then poured oil on troubled waters and explained that the Hosea Kutako Foundation had bought the plot a few years ago, but then was in arrears with the monthly payments.The Ovaherero Traditional Authority then applied recently to buy the land.”The Authority is not a tribal authority but a registered company,” Von Finckenstein explained.Despite this explanation some councillors did not want to “rush into” a decision to let the City keep half of the land and sell the rest to the company.”Some of us went to the ‘Herero Mall’ to see for ourselves what is going on there and we were shocked about the conditions,” Councillor Werner Claassen said.”How could the municipal authorities allow all these illegal ‘businesses’ to spring up, tapping electricity illegally?” he wanted to know.It was then decided to let the matter stand over until January for more discussion.