Oniipa residents want town downgraded to village council

Some residents of Oniipa are advocating the town to revert to village council status, primarily due to land ownership disputes.

Oniipa mayor Augustus Jafet on Wednesday said residents complain about slow development at the town, but have also approached the council with requests for it to revert to village council status.

Jafet said while the town has attracted significant interest from investors, development is hampered by some mahangu field owners within the town’s boundaries who are reluctant to relinquish their land for development.

“The mahangu field owners want to give their relatives plots in their fields instead of selling it to the town council so it can be sold to investors,” the mayor said.

He further said they are reportedly demanding prices for their land that exceed official valuations.

“We allowed land owners to buy their land for N$5 per square metre, but some of them are refusing to follow this rule,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Jafet highlighted some progress. He noted that the town council has compensated approximately eight landowners this year and is currently clearing the land.

Additionally, an open market has been established opposite the Onandjokwe State Hospital, and a new low-income settlement, Shamvula location, has been created, with land already allocated and construction underway.

The tender process for servicing around 30 plots at Onethindi Proper for high-income earners has also commenced.

Oniipa was proclaimed a settlement in 2004 and achieved town status in 2015.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.