Residents ‘fooled’ at Lüderitz

EIGHT beneficiaries of low cost houses say they were ‘fooled and bewildered’ by the Lüderitz Town Council recently.

At the handing over of 280 low cost houses at the town on Friday, which was officiated by Local Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo, eight prospective homeowners were delighted with the news that they could move into their new dwellings on Monday. However, according to the beneficiaries, who refused to be named, the Town Council on Monday told them, when they went to sign for their new house keys, that the houses could not be given to them because the lease agreements were not yet finalised. ‘Did they (Council) just eye-blind Minister Jerry Ekandjo by telling us at the ceremony to come and fetch the house keys on Monday or did they take us for a ride?’ They asked angrily. Lüderitz Town Council Public Relations Officer, Shali Akwaanyanga, admitted that the house keys were not handed to the eight beneficiaries as was planned for Monday. Akwaanyanga blamed ‘an administrative lapse’ for the outstanding lease agreements. ‘Council still needs to fine-tune the lease agreements,’ he said.He said the lease agreements would soon be finalised. ‘Just be patient, you’ll soon be given your new house keys,’ he said to the frustrated beneficiaries. Apart from the first eight, the rest of the houses are expected to be handed over in coming months.luqman@namibian.com.na