Staff Reporter
RESIDENTS of Babylon, Okahandja Park, and several other informal settlements in the vicinity of Maxuilili Centre have voiced their discontent regarding the lack of development and essential services in their area.
These concerns were brought to light during a public consultation gathering that took place on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Maxuilili Community Centre.
At the meeting, residents firmly demanded the provision of electricity, individual toilets, and water connections in their settlements, citing a dire need for these basic amenities.
Responding to the residents’ grievances, David Auwanga, a Property Administrator specializing in settlements at the City of Windhoek, acknowledged the protracted lack of development in the area. Auwanga explained that some residents have endured years of underdevelopment in their communities, but these challenges stem from issues related to the design and layout of the settlements.
He highlighted that the City had surveyed most of these informal settlements and formulated organized development plans. However, the situation became complicated as some residents erected structures in areas originally designated for roads and other services, rendering it problematic for the City to execute their development plans.
Auwanga said, “I have an example of Okahandja Park C, where we had 61 structures during the surveying process, but as we speak now, there are 79 illegal structures in that area, blocking roads and making it difficult to provide electricity to the residents in the area.”
Despite these obstacles, Auwanga reassured the residents that some areas had been successfully surveyed, and plans to provide electricity were on track, with the switch-on scheduled for October 2023. He emphasized that the City was committed to addressing these issues and improving the living conditions in these settlements.
The public consultation meeting was effectively facilitated by Windhoek Councillor Sam Shafishuna Nujoma, who ensured that the residents’ voices were heard and their concerns addressed. The event served as an opportunity for residents to express their frustrations and for city officials to provide explanations and potential solutions to the ongoing development challenges in these informal settlements.
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