Illegal tenants in government houses asked to vacate

Staff Reporter

THE Ministry of Works and Transport has issued a notice of eviction to a number of people who are inhabiting government houses illegally. This is according to the deputy minister of works and transport, who gave an update on the government’s assets register, which is currently being updated, as well as the issue of illegal tenants.

“There is an issue of illegal tenants in government housing. As we speak, the ministry has issued notices for these persons to vacate government premises. This will be done according to the law. There are those who have said they will not vacate. Some were issued eviction notices. If they fail to take heed of the notice, we will take the legal path for possible eviction with the Attorney General,” Veikko Nekundi, the deputy minister of works and transport, said in response to questions in parliament.

Julius Ngweda, the public relations officer within the works ministry, said that a total of 39 people have been found to be illegally occupying government houses, of which 14 are NDF members and 9 are police officers, while others include workers from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment. He further advised civil servants who are applying for government flats to check the progress of their applications with the works ministry instead of grabbing state property.

He added that members of the defence force will be evacuated by the military police if push comes to shove as they can not be handled by police officers below their ranking.

The deputy minister also stated that the works ministry is expecting the finalization of the government’s assets register. “The government has a very broad asset base. These assets transcend pre-independence. A standing committee has been established by the works and finance ministries. The substantive system of state assets has been created, and the software has been tested against any manipulation. The process is ongoing. Out of 13 regions, we have received statistical information from 12 regions. The Hardap region has not yet responded. A total of 6800 fixed assets have been verified, and the process is ongoing. This is an electronic system, and the system, to a greater degree, is safe from tampering,” Nekundi said.

He added that in addition to this, government employees will be able to purchase the government houses they occupy, adding that the cabinet has taken a decision that tenants are eligible to buy these houses and that an evaluation has been conducted with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform.