Mbok threatens ‘trigger-happy’ LAC

TONY Mbok of Dignity Housing Initiative has issued yet another demand to the Legal Assistance Centre – withdraw the criminal case against the developers or face a counter-claim.

Yesterday The Namibian carried a report in which Mbok vowed to take the Namibian Government and Housing Minister John Pandeni to court after he was allegedly accused of “crimes against humanity”. It all started after a group of poor Katutura residents claimed that Mbok had swindled them out of millions by promising to build them affordable houses which they never got.They claimed that they paid Mbok N$5 250 each through estate agents after he promised them houses worth between N$50 000 and N$65 000 if they paid a deposit of N$5 000 in addition to a refundable administration fee of N$250.Mbok and Dignity Housing Initiative have denied the charges, claiming that he did not receive the money from estate agency Pam Golding and estate agent Helena Mandevhu.To counter the claims, he has taken the first steps to force refunds to clients from Mandevhu and Pam Golding through the Namibia Real Estate Board.The estate agents claimed that they collected around N$2 million from the poor residents of Katutura for Mbok but he disputed that and challenged them to show proof.The LAC took the matter further by opening a criminal case (no 4594/07) against Dignity Housing Initiative and Mbok.In a letter to the LAC, Mbok alleged that its Director Norman Tjombe was an “arrogant or trigger-happy dictatorial judicial cowboy”.”We will not be intimidated and will respond and defend any legal action taken against us but will also allow room for amicable and understanding processes,” Mbok said in the letter.Mbok said the LAC’s refusal to join dignity Housing Initiative in a case against the estate agents would result in the human rights organisation losing out on valuable information.As a result, Mbok warned, “malpractice and misconduct claims” will be lodged against the LAC.”There will be no second warning, as your organisation has done enough to defame our project,” Mbok said.The Dignity Housing Project was launched in March last year but has never got off the ground in Windhoek.In Arandis they built two show houses.The Windhoek houses were supposed to be for people earning between N$800 and N$7 000 a month.Some of the residents have instructed the Legal Assistance Centre to help them recover their money from Mbok, who claimed that he was in business with a consortium including estate agency Pam Golding, estate agent Helena Mandevhu, Marbex Construction, Stoney Construction, Solbric Namibia and Africon as the engineering firm for the project.It all started after a group of poor Katutura residents claimed that Mbok had swindled them out of millions by promising to build them affordable houses which they never got.They claimed that they paid Mbok N$5 250 each through estate agents after he promised them houses worth between N$50 000 and N$65 000 if they paid a deposit of N$5 000 in addition to a refundable administration fee of N$250.Mbok and Dignity Housing Initiative have denied the charges, claiming that he did not receive the money from estate agency Pam Golding and estate agent Helena Mandevhu.To counter the claims, he has taken the first steps to force refunds to clients from Mandevhu and Pam Golding through the Namibia Real Estate Board.The estate agents claimed that they collected around N$2 million from the poor residents of Katutura for Mbok but he disputed that and challenged them to show proof.The LAC took the matter further by opening a criminal case (no 4594/07) against Dignity Housing Initiative and Mbok.In a letter to the LAC, Mbok alleged that its Director Norman Tjombe was an “arrogant or trigger-happy dictatorial judicial cowboy”.”We will not be intimidated and will respond and defend any legal action taken against us but will also allow room for amicable and understanding processes,” Mbok said in the letter.Mbok said the LAC’s refusal to join dignity Housing Initiative in a case against the estate agents would result in the human rights organisation losing out on valuable information.As a result, Mbok warned, “malpractice and misconduct claims” will be lodged against the LAC.”There will be no second warning, as your organisation has done enough to defame our project,” Mbok said.The Dignity Housing Project was launched in March last year but has never got off the ground in Windhoek.In Arandis they built two show houses.The Windhoek houses were supposed to be for people earning between N$800 and N$7 000 a month.Some of the residents have instructed the Legal Assistance Centre to help them recover their money from Mbok, who claimed that he was in business with a consortium including estate agency Pam Golding, estate agent Helena Mandevhu, Marbex Construction, Stoney Construction, Solbric Namibia and Africon as the engineering firm for the project.