FOR close to two weeks during the recent floods, Groot Aub residents who work in Windhoek could not cross the river to go to work – putting their jobs on the line.
When the Useb River is in full swing, patients who fall seriously ill cannot be transported to Windhoek, residents have warned.Moreover, the councillor responsible for their constituency, Frederik Arrie, has allegedly not visited the area to familiarise himself with the state of affairs.As a result, a group of about 50 villagers met at the Useb River on Saturday to voice their concern about the river and the destruction it is causing.According to Cicel Titus, a concrete slab in the riverbed would be the ‘cheapest and most immediate solution’.He said they intend to submit this proposal to the Khomas Regional Council.A committee of concerned residents was dissolved last year and ever since the affairs of the town have been neglected.’We are a concerned group, but may not be known as such anymore, because apparently that’s not good for an independent Namibia,’ Titus said.Titus called on the villagers ‘to come to the party’ and take themselves more seriously. ‘If we don’t grab this opportunity seriously now, we won’t achieve anything with the development of Groot Aub. We complain about a lot of things, but when a platform is created, no one comes to the party.’Wouter Körner, another resident, said: ‘This problem has been bothering the community for longer than I am old.’He said Saturday’s meeting was ‘way overdue’, but expressed disappointment at the few people who showed up.’Many of the people who complain non-stop are shining in their absence today.’Körner supports the idea of the concrete slab.As a long-term measure, the community would like to have a bridge built over the river. ‘But we will have to start another committee to bargain on behalf of our community. At this stage, we are very disorganised.’Titus said they also invited Khomas governor Samuel Nuuyoma to the settlement, but were informed that he is ‘waiting for the water to subside’.He said the majority of the town’s approximately 5 000 residents work in Windhoek and need to commute daily. ‘But with the recent floods, the people were stuck at home for close to two weeks. And employers don’t understand that.’Moreover, the residents say insurance companies don’t want to cover damage to vehicles caused by the river.Attempts to get hold of Arrie yesterday were unsuccessful.
