Swapo development in Khomasdal still a mystery

THE Windhoek City Council has granted Swapo a second extension to pay for an erf in Khomasdal to build a regional headquarters, despite concern from opposition councillors that there may be other interest in the property.

The council agreed to sell the erf by private treaty in June last year at a cost of N$682 000 and the party had until the beginning of August to indicate whether it was still interested in the purchase. This is after Swapo wrote to the Council in 2002 already, expressing interest in purchasing the property.Having received no reply by last December, the council indicated to Swapo that the party would have until the end of this month to finalise the sale.Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo met with Swapo Khomas Regional Coordinator Michael Mwinga last month to discuss “alternative development” and methods of payment.In a subsequent letter to the Council last month, Mwinga requested a two-month extension for the finalisation of the sale until April 28, saying that the original February deadline was given on short notice.The letter said Swapo needed the extension to “put their house in order”.When approached by The Namibian yesterday, Mwinga declined to reveal what Swapo’s latest development plans for the property were.”Do you report about all property being bought in Windhoek? Must it be discussed in the newspapers? Or is it only because it is Swapo?” he asked.Mwinga said time would tell what Swapo planned to build on the property and that the Council as the final decision-making body on development would be able to reveal the building plans.According to its original application to the council to buy the 3726-square-metre property in November 2002, Swapo indicated that it wanted to build a regional executive office for Khomas and a commercial complex.When DTA councillor Ilme Schneider expressed concern at the monthly council meeting on Wednesday night that the continued extensions might be depriving other interest in the property, her comments were quickly brushed aside by Swapo councillors Gerson Kambatuka and Bjorn von Finckenstein, who maintained that the extension had already been agreed to in a management committee.Schneider, supported by the UDF’s Werner Claasen, said they did not have a vote in the management committee and it was within their rights to raise concerns at the monthly council meeting if more information came to light or if they needed clarity on issues.Swapo now has until May 2 to finalise the sale or the council will rescind its decision to sell the property to it.The sale of property in the City by private treaty has become a contentious issue, especially as prime business property becomes scarcer, sparking accusations among developers that property was not being sold above board, or at prices below what it would have reached had it been put out to tender.In November 2003, the City Council re-zoned the erf for sale to Swapo on the corner of Rand and Florence Nightingale Streets from undetermined to business, and decided that the property be put up for sale by tender at a purchase price of N$559 000.This was after Swapo and the Apostolic Faith Church of Portland both indicated interest in buying the plot.The church failed in its application because it did not meet the prescribed number of 200 members on which the council determines the financial soundness of a church.The church did, however, supply a letter to Council motivating its financial position.At its meeting in November 2003, the Council agreed that the commercial complex Swapo intended to develop would benefit people in the area who were at least one kilometre away from such services.The planned development would include a post office, a Teleshop, pharmacy, doctors’ consulting rooms and fast-food franchises, Swapo said at the time.This is after Swapo wrote to the Council in 2002 already, expressing interest in purchasing the property.Having received no reply by last December, the council indicated to Swapo that the party would have until the end of this month to finalise the sale.Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo met with Swapo Khomas Regional Coordinator Michael Mwinga last month to discuss “alternative development” and methods of payment.In a subsequent letter to the Council last month, Mwinga requested a two-month extension for the finalisation of the sale until April 28, saying that the original February deadline was given on short notice.The letter said Swapo needed the extension to “put their house in order”.When approached by The Namibian yesterday, Mwinga declined to reveal what Swapo’s latest development plans for the property were.”Do you report about all property being bought in Windhoek? Must it be discussed in the newspapers? Or is it only because it is Swapo?” he asked.Mwinga said time would tell what Swapo planned to build on the property and that the Council as the final decision-making body on development would be able to reveal the building plans.According to its original application to the council to buy the 3726-square-metre property in November 2002, Swapo indicated that it wanted to build a regional executive office for Khomas and a commercial complex.When DTA councillor Ilme Schneider expressed concern at the monthly council meeting on Wednesday night that the continued extensions might be depriving other interest in the property, her comments were quickly brushed aside by Swapo councillors Gerson Kambatuka and Bjorn von Finckenstein, who maintained that the extension had already been agreed to in a management committee.Schneider, supported by the UDF’s Werner Claasen, said they did not have a vote in the management committee and it was within their rights to raise concerns at the monthly council meeting if more information came to light or if they needed clarity on issues.Swapo now has until May 2 to finalise the sale or the council will rescind its decision to sell the property to it.The sale of property in the City by private treaty has become a contentious issue, especially as prime business property becomes scarcer, sparking accusations among developers that property was not being sold above board, or at prices below what it would have reached had it been put out to tender.In November 2003, the City Council re-zoned the erf for sale to Swapo on the corner of Rand and Florence Nightingale Streets from undetermined to business, and decided that the property be put up for sale by tender at a purchase price of N$559 000.This was after Swapo and the Apostolic Faith Church of Portland both indicated interest in buying the plot.The church failed in its application because it did not meet the prescribed number of 200 members on which the council determines the financial soundness of a church.The church did, however, supply a letter to Council motivating its financial position.At its meeting in November 2003, the Council agreed that the commercial complex Swapo intended to develop would benefit people in the area who were at least one kilometre away from such services.The planned development would include a post office, a Teleshop, pharmacy, doctors’ consulting rooms and fast-food franchises, Swapo said at the time.