Mix squatters valuable to Swapo

SWAPO says the Mix Camp land dispute is a major challenge for the party, as the people being evicted are a “reliable voting block” for the ruling party’s Windhoek Rural Constituency.

Delegates to the fourth party congress were this week informed that the Khomas Regional Executive was concerned about developments at Mix and moving the people would result in losing important votes. The executive wants the issue resolved in a speedy manner and without affecting the party’s votes negatively.Mix Camp is situated at Brakwater, 20 km north of Windhoek.The 50-hectare plot was bought by Eluwa Lya Tenda Property of Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi after previous owner Heiner Mix died.Mix had given the 3 000 residents of camp permission to live on the property since 1980 in return for a nominal rent.In December, Eluwa Lya Tenda obtained a High Court eviction order against the residents but they have so far refused to move off the plot.In the meantime, a group of people, calling themselves the Emmarentia-Brakwater Residents’ Committee, say the squatters are making life difficult for them.The committee claims there is widespread lawlessness such as stabbings, assaults and illegal trading, illegal use of firearms, illegal shebeens, trespassing, littering, pollution, threats from Mix residents, theft and burglaries in the area and overgrazing on their property.And, because of the illegal slaughtering and sale of meat and pollution of their properties which have become toilets, the land owners claim their property prices have dropped dramatically over the past few years.The committee has approached the City of Windhoek but claims promises continue to be made with no action.The spokesperson for the group, Philip Du Plessis, informed The Namibian this week that the City Police had promised two weeks ago to close illegal shebeens there but they have yet to make an appearance there.”On a daily basis we have to put up with people from Mix defecating in full view of people driving past and me and my family.I am tired of this as everybody stands by and does nothing.Why are we being targeted and our rights being ignored? The stench of human s…..is disgusting and health threatening,” Du Plessis said.He said the apathy and inaction of the City of Windhoek spoke volumes about its lack of concern.Du Plessis said investors were reluctant to buy property in the area and property values had declined significantly.The executive wants the issue resolved in a speedy manner and without affecting the party’s votes negatively.Mix Camp is situated at Brakwater, 20 km north of Windhoek.The 50-hectare plot was bought by Eluwa Lya Tenda Property of Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi after previous owner Heiner Mix died.Mix had given the 3 000 residents of camp permission to live on the property since 1980 in return for a nominal rent.In December, Eluwa Lya Tenda obtained a High Court eviction order against the residents but they have so far refused to move off the plot.In the meantime, a group of people, calling themselves the Emmarentia-Brakwater Residents’ Committee, say the squatters are making life difficult for them.The committee claims there is widespread lawlessness such as stabbings, assaults and illegal trading, illegal use of firearms, illegal shebeens, trespassing, littering, pollution, threats from Mix residents, theft and burglaries in the area and overgrazing on their property.And, because of the illegal slaughtering and sale of meat and pollution of their properties which have become toilets, the land owners claim their property prices have dropped dramatically over the past few years.The committee has approached the City of Windhoek but claims promises continue to be made with no action.The spokesperson for the group, Philip Du Plessis, informed The Namibian this week that the City Police had promised two weeks ago to close illegal shebeens there but they have yet to make an appearance there.”On a daily basis we have to put up with people from Mix defecating in full view of people driving past and me and my family.I am tired of this as everybody stands by and does nothing.Why are we being targeted and our rights being ignored? The stench of human s…..is disgusting and health threatening,” Du Plessis said.He said the apathy and inaction of the City of Windhoek spoke volumes about its lack of concern.Du Plessis said investors were reluctant to buy property in the area and property values had declined significantly.