Govt snubs community over ‘secret’ army building

EXPECTATIONS of answers to what has been happening in their area for the last two years resulted in more frustration for the Arovlei community yesterday, as Government snubbed an invitation to address them at a community meeting.

More than 260 people from the Khomas farming community and some neighbouring villages convened at the village farmhouse, hoping to hear from their elected representatives what the secretive military building being erected inside one of their camps will mean for their future. The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, the Khomas Regional Council and the Ministry of Defence were all scheduled to have representatives present at yesterday’s meeting.Since 2006, when construction of the controversial building began, the villagers have only been able to determine that the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) is behind the presence of the group of Chinese construction workers in their midst.When no answers were forthcoming yesterday, their frustration was evident.Rumours that the building will become an ammunition factory or warehouse; fears that they would be forced to resettle soon; and charges that construction waste, including cement bags and “sharp objects” have caused the death of numerous livestock, are being allowed to run rampant without any facts to the contrary being presented.Residents say that, among others, goats at Arovlei have died after grazing on plastic bags allegedly left behind by construction workers.”I voted for you to have prosperity.I am a loyal Swapo member.Were all my efforts in vain?” #Hanabaeb Gariseb, an elderly man, asked.”If they talk about development, then it’s good.But what I don’t understand is why, in order for development to come, must we be moved away from that development.”Let me ask who will benefit from this development? Is it the Malaysians or the Koreans? Let us please be part of this development,” another, who identified himself as Nikolaas, said to cheers.Others suggested that the community bypass the bodies they have tried to speak to present, and arrange for an appointment with the President himself.”I suggest we speak to the President and ask him to get his subordinates into action.Otherwise, we will be sent from office to office and that factory will be in full operation while we sit and wonder still,” said another.The commander of the nearby Oamites military base, who identified himself only as W Heita, told the gathering that, because of structures in place in the military, he could not reveal Government’s plans and they needed to speak to someone higher up in the ranks.Heita put a stop to the community’s plan to go to the building after the meeting and see for themselves what was going on.He refused to allow them access to the site.The villagers say they will continue to press Government for answers, and will try and speak directly to Lands Minister Alpheus !Naruseb before trying to arrange a meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, the Khomas Regional Council and the Ministry of Defence were all scheduled to have representatives present at yesterday’s meeting.Since 2006, when construction of the controversial building began, the villagers have only been able to determine that the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) is behind the presence of the group of Chinese construction workers in their midst.When no answers were forthcoming yesterday, their frustration was evident.Rumours that the building will become an ammunition factory or warehouse; fears that they would be forced to resettle soon; and charges that construction waste, including cement bags and “sharp objects” have caused the death of numerous livestock, are being allowed to run rampant without any facts to the contrary being presented.Residents say that, among others, goats at Arovlei have died after grazing on plastic bags allegedly left behind by construction workers.”I voted for you to have prosperity.I am a loyal Swapo member.Were all my efforts in vain?” #Hanabaeb Gariseb, an elderly man, asked.”If they talk about development, then it’s good.But what I don’t understand is why, in order for development to come, must we be moved away from that development.”Let me ask who will benefit from this development? Is it the Malaysians or the Koreans? Let us please be part of this development,” another, who identified himself as Nikolaas, said to cheers.Others suggested that the community bypass the bodies they have tried to speak to present, and arrange for an appointment with the President himself.”I suggest we speak to the President and ask him to get his subordinates into action.Otherwise, we will be sent from office to office and that factory will be in full operation while we sit and wonder still,” said another.The commander of the nearby Oamites military base, who identified himself only as W Heita, told the gathering that, because of structures in place in the military, he could not reveal Government’s plans and they needed to speak to someone higher up in the ranks.Heita put a stop to the community’s plan to go to the building after the meeting and see for themselves what was going on.He refused to allow them access to the site.The villagers say they will continue to press Government for answers, and will try and speak directly to Lands Minister Alpheus !Naruseb before trying to arrange a meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.