• TAATI NIILENGEYOUNG people at Usakos are blaming the town council for the large number of alcoholics at the town, whom they say turn to bars and other alcohol outlets to pass time.
Residents say there is great business potential for young people in the town, but their ideas and initiatives are not being taken seriously, and they described Usakos as a ghost town that has been in the same dormant state for years.
They also argued that the town council only calls them for meetings when they want to talk about tariff increases. The residents said while there are ideas to engage in agriculture and mining which could create employment, the town council only concentrates on projects such as the tarring of roads, which they say is not a priority.
Senior residents say they have been trying for years to obtain erven without succcess, while “outsiders” are easily getting erven in the town. They also complained that they have never been employed, yet people from other towns come and get jobs in the town.
“I am 53 years old, and I still live in my parents’ house. All these years, I have been supported by my parents. I have been applying for a house since 1996, but in vain. When will I ever be happy in my own town? If you go around this town, you will hear many such complaints. We are not satisfied with the town’s leaders” said Francisca //Gaes.
Cleophas Shunyuni complained that it takes a long time for council to complete minor projects.
“Look at the new municipal building that is never finished. It has been standing like that for the entire year. We are told that it is the fault of the contractors who are too slow. Why can’t they admit failure?”
Residents also said there were promises that a bridge would be built at the town to enable people to safely cross from the township to the town centre during rainy seasons, but this never materialised.
Approached for comment, the public relations officer of the town Manfriedt Weskop said the council is planning to engage stakeholders, including the youth.
Council acknowledges that the youth is frustrated, but realising development is a slow process.
He also said while small mining activities are taking place around Mount Erongo in the Daures constituency, this constituency does not constitute the locality of Usakos. Even if there were mineral deposits in and around the area under the jurisdiction of the Usakos town council, the administration, control and management of such small mining activities are under the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“The only reservoir owned by and registered in the name of the Usakos town council is situated on Portion 6 of Portion A of the Remainder of Usakos Town and Townlands 40, which supplies water to our residents in “Bo-dorp”, Usakos proper and Usakos Extension 1, respectively.
“For the extraction of water from the Khan River (downstream), the youth must apply to the ministry of agriculture for a permit to carry out a planned lucerne project,” Weskop explained.
They also have to obtain an environmental clearance certificate from the environmental commissioner for their project before the town council can consider helping the youth with their lucerne project.
Matters handled by the council are contained in their approved budget and the outcome is then discussed at community meetings which the youth, in most instances, do not attend.
According to him, all capital projects are implemented through open tender procurement procedures.
Weskop further stated that the town’s residents were advised to establish skills-based companies to tender for carpentry and plastering jobs, among others, which the youth has ignored. Council has also employed a local economic development officer to help community members register their companies and businesses.
According to him, six new townships were established, and council is waiting for the Erongo Regional Council to release its town and regional planner for assistance.
Weskop said millions of dollars are, however, needed to service these extensions, and council depends on financing from the central government. Residential erven can only be allocated once the approved townships are serviced.
The spokesperson denied that the new council’s administrative office block was left incomplete, or that council told the residents that the contractors are slow.
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