Squatters shack up in city’s mountains

SQUATTERS are putting up the most basic of shacks in the mountains east of the Windhoek SPCA in Robert Mugabe Avenue.

Five men, a woman and two children are living at the squatter camp they call the ‘Five Star Hotel’. When walking along an overgrown footpath up the mountainside, you reach a small clearing strewn with litter and dotted with four shacks made of wood, stones and plastic sheeting.Empty bottles, plastic containers, tins and paper are scattered everywhere.Pieces of meat are hanging from the branches of and bushes, alongside wet clothing and shoes.The shacks are well concealed and were first noticed by the occupants of the Radio Cosmos helicopter that flies over Windhoek every morning to do a traffic report.The radio station informed the Windhoek Municipality and two City Police officers were sent to investigate.When they arrived at the scene yesterday, the only person in the camp was John Ipumbu (28), still fast asleep in his shack.The other residents had left very early to find some money to get through another day.Ipumbu says he is originally from northern Namibia and came to Windhoek to look for a job after doing an apprenticeship in painting, tiling and bricklaying at Otavi.He found work and lived in Katutura for a while, but when he lost his job, he also lost a place to stay.A friend who lives at the ‘Five Star Hotel’ invited Ipumbu to join them and he built a small shelter with plastic bags and natural materials such as stones and wood found on the mountain.He says they put out plastic containers to catch rainwater.As far as food is concerned, Ipumbu seems to put his trust in fellow citizens.”People are people and they don’t just die.When I go to my friends and ask for money or food, they always give me some.Even if I ask you, you will give me some and will not let me starve,” he told The Namibian.He said the ‘Five Star Hotel’ is not the only settlement in the area and that he knows of many people who are squatting in the mountains.When the City Police find illegal squatters, they relocate them to the informal settlements around Katutura and clean up the area.But according to Sergeant Milton Beukes, most of them return to squatting, although not necessarily to the same spot.When asked what he would do for the rest of the day, Ipumbu answered: “I will go to my friends who are musicians and play some guitar then I will come back to my mountain and enjoy the view.”When walking along an overgrown footpath up the mountainside, you reach a small clearing strewn with litter and dotted with four shacks made of wood, stones and plastic sheeting.Empty bottles, plastic containers, tins and paper are scattered everywhere.Pieces of meat are hanging from the branches of and bushes, alongside wet clothing and shoes.The shacks are well concealed and were first noticed by the occupants of the Radio Cosmos helicopter that flies over Windhoek every morning to do a traffic report.The radio station informed the Windhoek Municipality and two City Police officers were sent to investigate.When they arrived at the scene yesterday, the only person in the camp was John Ipumbu (28), still fast asleep in his shack. The other residents had left very early to find some money to get through another day.Ipumbu says he is originally from northern Namibia and came to Windhoek to look for a job after doing an apprenticeship in painting, tiling and bricklaying at Otavi.He found work and lived in Katutura for a while, but when he lost his job, he also lost a place to stay.A friend who lives at the ‘Five Star Hotel’ invited Ipumbu to join them and he built a small shelter with plastic bags and natural materials such as stones and wood found on the mountain.He says they put out plastic containers to catch rainwater.As far as food is concerned, Ipumbu seems to put his trust in fellow citizens.”People are people and they don’t just die.When I go to my friends and ask for money or food, they always give me some.Even if I ask you, you will give me some and will not let me starve,” he told The Namibian.He said the ‘Five Star Hotel’ is not the only settlement in the area and that he knows of many people who are squatting in the mountains.When the City Police find illegal squatters, they relocate them to the informal settlements around Katutura and clean up the area.But according to Sergeant Milton Beukes, most of them return to squatting, although not necessarily to the same spot.When asked what he would do for the rest of the day, Ipumbu answered: “I will go to my friends who are musicians and play some guitar then I will come back to my mountain and enjoy the view.”