Govt Houses Are Crumbling

I AM a Government employee working in Opuwo constituency.

I am living in a Government house belongs to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication. This house and many others were allocated to individual Government employees and some were allocated to certain ministries, and the ministries allocated the house to their employees.These houses are from the old regime, they are very old – roofs and ceilings are falling apart, pipes are blocked, there are cracks all over the walls and floors.The buildings have become very risky for those who are living there.The Ministry of Works, which is responsible for maintaining these houses, sometimes does minor repairs but they can do nothing to solve the problem because of lack of tools, equipment or funds.Sometimes the occupants have to hire someone to do the job for them.My main concern is that these buildings are a health and safety risk.Why can’t the Ministry of Works consider selling these buildings, giving first choice to the occupants, like it did in other towns, such as Otjiwarongo? Why are we treated as if we are not Namibian citizens? We all want to own property and we will be able to improve the condition of these buildings.All buildings belonging to the ministry should be considered, even those that are allocated to the various ministries and not only those which were allocated to individuals.Let us all be treated equally in this matter.Jairus Petrus, Via e-mailThis house and many others were allocated to individual Government employees and some were allocated to certain ministries, and the ministries allocated the house to their employees.These houses are from the old regime, they are very old – roofs and ceilings are falling apart, pipes are blocked, there are cracks all over the walls and floors.The buildings have become very risky for those who are living there.The Ministry of Works, which is responsible for maintaining these houses, sometimes does minor repairs but they can do nothing to solve the problem because of lack of tools, equipment or funds.Sometimes the occupants have to hire someone to do the job for them.My main concern is that these buildings are a health and safety risk.Why can’t the Ministry of Works consider selling these buildings, giving first choice to the occupants, like it did in other towns, such as Otjiwarongo? Why are we treated as if we are not Namibian citizens? We all want to own property and we will be able to improve the condition of these buildings.All buildings belonging to the ministry should be considered, even those that are allocated to the various ministries and not only those which were allocated to individuals.Let us all be treated equally in this matter.Jairus Petrus, Via e-mail