Sam Nujoma Stadium caused Dolam floods

SERIOUS design flaws in the construction of the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura caused the flooding of about 14 homes in the adjacent Dolam location at the beginning of January.

This is one of the findings contained in a just-released report by Windhoek Consulting Engineers (WCE), which recently did an on-site survey at the stadium to see if its construction had contributed to the flooding, as the residents claimed. WCE was approached by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) – the legal advisors to the affected residents – to do an independent assessment.The LAC’s Evelyn Zimba-Naris told The Namibian yesterday that they had read the report and it had been found that “serious design flaws of the Sam Nujoma Soccer Stadium certainly caused the flooding and consequent damage to the property of our clients”.She said the report also confirmed residents’ concerns about repeated floods when it rains heavily.”The risk is real, considering that the current rainy season does not appear to be abating,” said Zimba-Naris.She said the LAC would consult with Dolam residents on Monday to discuss the possibility of approaching the High Court with a damages claim.She said going to court seemed to be the likely option, as the City had indicated that it intended to expropriate and demolish the homes.The LAC has yet to hear from the City on counter-offers from the residents.Recently, the City offered to buy the residents’ homes and indicated that it would expropriate the houses if the owners did not agree with the prices offered for them.Through the LAC, the residents made counter-offers because “there were some discrepancies,” Zimba-Naris said.After the City’s valuators determined the value of the houses, the LAC instructed independent evaluators to conduct their own valuation.Zimba-Naris said if the City refused to accept their clients’ counter-offers and proceeded with expropriation, they would go to court.Meanwhile, about 25 tenants who were renting accommodation in the affected homes have been compensated by the City for the moveable property they lost in the flood and have left the Sam Nujoma Stadium, where they were camping together with the rest of the affected families.Some of the affected homeowners have also moved back into their homes.According to a reliable source, the City gave tenants the equivalent of one month’s rent and settlement money for damage to their belongings.Shortly after the January flood, the affected families claimed that the flood had been caused by the construction of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which is a stone’s throw from their homes.The LAC said this case was a good example of the need for public consultation and consensus and proper and transparent impact assessment before any project was embarked on.”Had this been done, the stadium would probably not have been built there, or with such serious design flaws, and the disruption of lives and destruction or property would not have occurred,” said Zimba-Naris.WCE was approached by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) – the legal advisors to the affected residents – to do an independent assessment.The LAC’s Evelyn Zimba-Naris told The Namibian yesterday that they had read the report and it had been found that “serious design flaws of the Sam Nujoma Soccer Stadium certainly caused the flooding and consequent damage to the property of our clients”.She said the report also confirmed residents’ concerns about repeated floods when it rains heavily.”The risk is real, considering that the current rainy season does not appear to be abating,” said Zimba-Naris.She said the LAC would consult with Dolam residents on Monday to discuss the possibility of approaching the High Court with a damages claim.She said going to court seemed to be the likely option, as the City had indicated that it intended to expropriate and demolish the homes.The LAC has yet to hear from the City on counter-offers from the residents.Recently, the City offered to buy the residents’ homes and indicated that it would expropriate the houses if the owners did not agree with the prices offered for them.Through the LAC, the residents made counter-offers because “there were some discrepancies,” Zimba-Naris said.After the City’s valuators determined the value of the houses, the LAC instructed independent evaluators to conduct their own valuation.Zimba-Naris said if the City refused to accept their clients’ counter-offers and proceeded with expropriation, they would go to court.Meanwhile, about 25 tenants who were renting accommodation in the affected homes have been compensated by the City for the moveable property they lost in the flood and have left the Sam Nujoma Stadium, where they were camping together with the rest of the affected families.Some of the affected homeowners have also moved back into their homes.According to a reliable source, the City gave tenants the equivalent of one month’s rent and settlement money for damage to their belongings.Shortly after the January flood, the affected families claimed that the flood had been caused by the construction of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which is a stone’s throw from their homes.The LAC said this case was a good example of the need for public consultation and consensus and proper and transparent impact assessment before any project was embarked on.”Had this been done, the stadium would probably not have been built there, or with such serious design flaws, and the disruption of lives and destruction or property would not have occurred,” said Zimba-Naris.