Resentment simmers at Gibeon

RESIDENTS at Gibeon last week took to the streets to protest alleged poor service by their village council.

According to group leader Cynthia Uinuses, they demonstrated because the council had failed to respond to issues raised at an earlier protest in May. “We will not rest until our demands are met,” Uinuses said.The residents claim in a petition that the cost of electricity installation levied by the council is exorbitant.They claim that it costs N$1 575 to have a house connected to the electricity grid, while the previous council did it for free.The protestors also accuse the councillors of favouritism, claiming that 80 per cent of development funds went to the !Nanseb residential area.”Water, electricity and sanitation services first start at the !Nanseb section and end there before reaching the other four sections of the village,” the petition alleges.It also claims that money donated by the German government to replace the old bucket-toilet sanitation system had only benefited the !Nanseb section.The residents called on Local Government Minister John Pandeni to intervene in the standoff between them and the village council.Council Chairperson Lilly Brand refused to comment on the petition.In its response to the earlier demonstration, the council blamed a lack of funds for delays in providing electricity to all parts of the village.Village Secretary Sebedeus Gariseb partly blames the Hardap Regional Council for the sluggish development process at the village.He said the N$8 million surplus of the Hardap Regional Council had found its way back to State coffers instead of being pumped back into development projects.”The Regional Council is responsible for bringing development and could have initiated development projects with the surplus money instead of sending it back,” he said.Gariseb declined to comment on the electricity issue, saying it was “delicate”.He told The Namibian that the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development had declined a request for providing houses with electricity free of charge.”We will not rest until our demands are met,” Uinuses said.The residents claim in a petition that the cost of electricity installation levied by the council is exorbitant.They claim that it costs N$1 575 to have a house connected to the electricity grid, while the previous council did it for free.The protestors also accuse the councillors of favouritism, claiming that 80 per cent of development funds went to the !Nanseb residential area.”Water, electricity and sanitation services first start at the !Nanseb section and end there before reaching the other four sections of the village,” the petition alleges.It also claims that money donated by the German government to replace the old bucket-toilet sanitation system had only benefited the !Nanseb section.The residents called on Local Government Minister John Pandeni to intervene in the standoff between them and the village council.Council Chairperson Lilly Brand refused to comment on the petition.In its response to the earlier demonstration, the council blamed a lack of funds for delays in providing electricity to all parts of the village.Village Secretary Sebedeus Gariseb partly blames the Hardap Regional Council for the sluggish development process at the village.He said the N$8 million surplus of the Hardap Regional Council had found its way back to State coffers instead of being pumped back into development projects.”The Regional Council is responsible for bringing development and could have initiated development projects with the surplus money instead of sending it back,” he said.Gariseb declined to comment on the electricity issue, saying it was “delicate”.He told The Namibian that the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development had declined a request for providing houses with electricity free of charge.