Dolam flood victims to stage demo

RESIDENTS of about 14 homes that were flooded by rainwater in the Dolam section of Katutura two weeks ago plan a demonstration this morning at the Windhoek City Council to demand compensation for their losses.

Their spokesperson, Claudia Namises, said yesterday that the municipality cared less about them than the Sam Nujoma football stadium, in which it had invested a lot of money. She said the city engineers told them that the flood on January 3 had not been caused by the construction of the stadium.Namises said the municipality had not pronounced itself on whether or not it was going to compensate them for their losses.She said the concerned group wanted the municipality to give them a comprehensive report on what had caused their homes to be flooded.The residents maintain that the flood was caused by the construction of the stadium, which they say rerouted a riverbed too close to their homes.The municipality has provided temporary shelter for the flood victims – inside the stadium that they blame for their situation.Liz Sibindi, the public relations officer at the Windhoek Municipality, says they are not aware of the demonstration.She said the City would have to study the engineers’ assessment report before it could say what the next step would be.”That is our position.What I am aware of is that we have a meeting with them tomorrow,” said Sibindi.She said the city engineers told them that the flood on January 3 had not been caused by the construction of the stadium.Namises said the municipality had not pronounced itself on whether or not it was going to compensate them for their losses.She said the concerned group wanted the municipality to give them a comprehensive report on what had caused their homes to be flooded.The residents maintain that the flood was caused by the construction of the stadium, which they say rerouted a riverbed too close to their homes.The municipality has provided temporary shelter for the flood victims – inside the stadium that they blame for their situation.Liz Sibindi, the public relations officer at the Windhoek Municipality, says they are not aware of the demonstration.She said the City would have to study the engineers’ assessment report before it could say what the next step would be.”That is our position.What I am aware of is that we have a meeting with them tomorrow,” said Sibindi.