Gibeon residents protest over poor service delivery

DISCONTENTED residents of Gibeon yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration over alleged poor service delivery rendered by their village council.

According to group leader Cynthia Uinuses, the village council failed to provide them with satisfactory answers during a community meeting held last month. The meeting was convened after residents of two residential areas complained of favouritism on the part of the village councillors, Uinuses told The Namibian.She claimed councillors had installed electricity free of charge in the houses of their supporters, while others had to pay installation fees ranging from N$300 to N$1 500.Furthermore, she claimed, funds received from the German government to replace the old bucket toilet system seemed to benefit only the Witboois’ residential area instead of the entire Gibeon community.”I wanted to know whether this is because former Deputy Prime Minister Hendrik Witbooi played an important role in soliciting these funds,” Uinuses said.She also maintains that roads at the settlement are not repaired and that the council has turned a blind eye on the plundering of a local school.Since their election in May last year, no development has taken place at the settlement, she added.”Other village councils have erect low-cost houses within a year, why is this not happening at our settlement,” she wanted to know.Efforts to obtain comment from the village secretary proved fruitless, as he was said to be out of town.Neither could the chairperson of the council be reached for comment.The meeting was convened after residents of two residential areas complained of favouritism on the part of the village councillors, Uinuses told The Namibian.She claimed councillors had installed electricity free of charge in the houses of their supporters, while others had to pay installation fees ranging from N$300 to N$1 500.Furthermore, she claimed, funds received from the German government to replace the old bucket toilet system seemed to benefit only the Witboois’ residential area instead of the entire Gibeon community.”I wanted to know whether this is because former Deputy Prime Minister Hendrik Witbooi played an important role in soliciting these funds,” Uinuses said.She also maintains that roads at the settlement are not repaired and that the council has turned a blind eye on the plundering of a local school.Since their election in May last year, no development has taken place at the settlement, she added.”Other village councils have erect low-cost houses within a year, why is this not happening at our settlement,” she wanted to know.Efforts to obtain comment from the village secretary proved fruitless, as he was said to be out of town.Neither could the chairperson of the council be reached for comment.