Okahandja tourism expo sparks outrage amid crime fears and community grief

Tensions are rising at Okahandja as residents are still opposing the town council’s decision to proceed with the planned trade and tourism expo amid unresolved murders at the town.

Community activist Gerub Gaseb says the community is still psychologically distressed due to ongoing police investigations and a lack of safety assurances.

He says the community has repeatedly appealed to the council to delay the expo until justice is served.

“Everybody knows that Okahandja itself is a crime scene. There are unsolved murder cases of our young girls. Currently there is no arrest or positive lead towards the culprits or culprit,” he says.

Gaseb says residents have submitted petitions, written letters, and made countless calls, yet the town council is continuing with expo preparations.

He says with school examinations underway and safety concerns rife, many parents are keeping their children indoors, further highlighting the community’s fears.

“If you look at the schedule, those four days, five days, every day it is only music, entertainment, music, entertainment. There is no keynote speaker. There is nothing like a virtual prayer or something dedicated to the young girls,” Gaseb says.

He says even some exhibitors are withdrawing from the event, with many seeking refunds or selling their stall spaces, citing irrelevance and financial imprudence by the town council.

Gaseb says the absence of meaningful or uplifting content has added to public disillusionment.

“Hence, it is for me irrelevant, unsustainable. It is a process during which the town council takes ratepayers’ and taxpayers’ money and literally burns it out . . .” he says.

Gaseb says if the community’s voice continues to be ignored, voters will hold those responsible accountable during the upcoming elections.

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