Squatters evicted from Govt houses

THE Government has begun identifying and evicting illegal occupants of State flats and houses. The process was set in motion on Wednesday evening when the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication served eviction notices on 15 illegal occupants of Government houses in Windhoek.

It gave them a maximum of 30 days in which to make alternative arrangements and hand the house keys over to the ministry. Works Minister Joel Kaapanda told a media briefing yesterday that his Ministry would send a strong team, backed by the Police, with strict orders to evict all illegal occupants from Government properties.”I urge all such illegal occupants to evacuate immediately before they are forced to do so against their will.All keys must be surrendered to the Ministry.I would like to request all those who will be affected to render co-operation to my team in order to make the process amicable and smooth,” said Kaapanda.The Minister said the eviction campaign was aimed at restoring the dignity and integrity of Government in the administration of its assets.It would also “ensure the establishment of a credible system in the allocation of official accommodation to qualifying civil servants, bringing to an end corruption, maladministration and self-enrichment by unscrupulous officials who have benefited through malpractices,” he said.Kaapanda said many Government houses and flats had been vandalised or turned into shebeens, car repair workshops and brothels by these illegal occupants.”Consequently, such people have been depriving Government of much-needed revenue by not paying rent, which could be used to eradicate poverty and for the maintenance of Government properties,” the Minister explained.Although he could not give the exact number of houses and people targeted in the operation, the minister indicated that this would be a mammoth task because of the sheer number of people suspected to be occupying Government houses and flats illegally.Kaapanda admitted that the problem had been exacerbated by the fact that the Government did not have a proper assets register.He said his ministry would soon conduct a survey on all State properties to update the Government fixed assets register.Last month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba instructed the Ministry of Works to tighten security at Government-owned houses and flats to curb the vandalism seen at these buildings.”The ministry should move speedily to evict all illegal occupants from Government flats and houses.In many cases, it is such illegal occupants who contribute to the deterioration of the physical condition of these facilities,” Pohamba said.- NampaWorks Minister Joel Kaapanda told a media briefing yesterday that his Ministry would send a strong team, backed by the Police, with strict orders to evict all illegal occupants from Government properties.”I urge all such illegal occupants to evacuate immediately before they are forced to do so against their will.All keys must be surrendered to the Ministry.I would like to request all those who will be affected to render co-operation to my team in order to make the process amicable and smooth,” said Kaapanda.The Minister said the eviction campaign was aimed at restoring the dignity and integrity of Government in the administration of its assets.It would also “ensure the establishment of a credible system in the allocation of official accommodation to qualifying civil servants, bringing to an end corruption, maladministration and self-enrichment by unscrupulous officials who have benefited through malpractices,” he said.Kaapanda said many Government houses and flats had been vandalised or turned into shebeens, car repair workshops and brothels by these illegal occupants.”Consequently, such people have been depriving Government of much-needed revenue by not paying rent, which could be used to eradicate poverty and for the maintenance of Government properties,” the Minister explained.Although he could not give the exact number of houses and people targeted in the operation, the minister indicated that this would be a mammoth task because of the sheer number of people suspected to be occupying Government houses and flats illegally.Kaapanda admitted that the problem had been exacerbated by the fact that the Government did not have a proper assets register.He said his ministry would soon conduct a survey on all State properties to update the Government fixed assets register.Last month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba instructed the Ministry of Works to tighten security at Government-owned houses and flats to curb the vandalism seen at these buildings.”The ministry should move speedily to evict all illegal occupants from Government flats and houses.In many cases, it is such illegal occupants who contribute to the deterioration of the physical condition of these facilities,” Pohamba said.- Nampa