Lawyers position themselves on Northland development

THE Director of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) says they are still preparing documents for a court application opposing the proposed construction of the Northland City shopping complex at Helao Nafidi in the Ohangwena Region.

The development will force out residents of Omafo village. Norman Tjombe told The Namibian this week that the LAC would consult the affected villages again this week on the matter.Last month, the LAC advised the villagers to apply for a High Court order to stop the Helao Nafidi Town Council from going ahead with the development.In a letter to the Town Council, Tjombe said it appeared that the alienation of the piece of land on which the proposed shopping and entertainment complex would be erected was not subjected to the council’s tender committee, which threw into question the legality of the alienation.The letter also noted that any alienation of the residents’ properties would only be possible with just compensation.Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of the Helao Nafidi Town Council, Chris Shivolo was quoted by a local daily as saying that the council had instructed its lawyers to respond to the villagers’ claims.Norman Tjombe told The Namibian this week that the LAC would consult the affected villages again this week on the matter.Last month, the LAC advised the villagers to apply for a High Court order to stop the Helao Nafidi Town Council from going ahead with the development.In a letter to the Town Council, Tjombe said it appeared that the alienation of the piece of land on which the proposed shopping and entertainment complex would be erected was not subjected to the council’s tender committee, which threw into question the legality of the alienation.The letter also noted that any alienation of the residents’ properties would only be possible with just compensation.Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of the Helao Nafidi Town Council, Chris Shivolo was quoted by a local daily as saying that the council had instructed its lawyers to respond to the villagers’ claims.