Demolition of squatter homes continues

CONFUSION and miscommunication are plaguing efforts to get Otjomuise shack dwellers to acquire plots legally.

On Wednesday the Regional Councillor for Khomasdal North, Margareth Mensah-Williams, called a community meeting in an attempt to get clarity on the situation after six community leaders were summoned to court last Thursday.The six where summoned to court to be informed that they should stop the illegal clearing and settling on unserviced municipal land. The land is on the outskirts of Otjomuise, adjacent to the former Ramatex factory. Mensah-Williams called the meeting to establish what was going on since she had helped the six and their groups to legally apply for land from the municipality. Mensah-Williams said she had organised groups of people and assisted them after the February land-grabbing incident and that none of the groups currently in trouble with the municipality had her blessing to settle on the land. Meanwhile, shack dwellers in Otjomuise’s Agtste Laan section had to brace for yet another demolition in which 34 shacks were torn down by the Windhoek City Police this week. The angry people continue to demand land of their own from the Municipality. The City of Windhoek has persisted in removing illegal squatters, citing the need to set up proper infrastructure such as ablution facilities and street lights before allowing people on the Municipality’s waiting lists to move in.However, the squatters don’t see the sense behind the evictions. Some say they have been on waiting lists for many years and need to provide housing for their families in the meantime.Teresia Hamwele (35) has lived with her husband and their four children in a shack for three years. She says the Municipality told her to go to Otjomuise, and she was told where to build her shack by the Housing Committee that has been set up by the residents of the informal settlement. Last weekend’s eviction came as a complete surprise to her. ‘There was no warning, we were given no time to prepare,’ she said.While some have begun rebuilding their shacks, others have resorted to renting rooms from others in the area. ‘We’re too afraid to rebuild,’ said Coldelia Bochane (27). She and her family rent a room from a neighbour because the risk of arrest is too high.’The Police said if they find us building again, they will take us to jail. We don’t have money to go to jail.’ The head of the Otjomuise Housing Committee, Jan Magiedt (71), expressed disappointment at the actions of the Government. ‘These people are for Swapo [supporters],’ he said. ‘How can Swapo come back to these people and ask them to vote for Swapo?’ According to Magiedt, appeals to Government to allow temporary habitation of the land were unsuccessful. ‘Maybe the President must go and ask for land in other countries, because there is no land for us here,’ he said bitterly.ndapwa@namibian.com.natileni@namibian.com.na