Illegal structures put Oniipa at risk

Illegal structures put Oniipa at risk The newly proclaimed town council of Oniipa in the Oshikoto Region is frustrated by people building illegally on municipal land.

Mayor Immanuel Kambonde has warned that the continued construction of these illegal structures within the town boundaries might lead to the downgrading of Oniipa to a village.

Kambonde told Namibian Sun that there were over 1 000 illegal structures within the town's boundaries.

Allegedly, residents and headmen of villages such as Oniihandi, Omuhozi, Iiyale, Onampadhi, Ondando, Okambonde, Onamulunga, Iinongo and Oshaakondwa, all of which fall within the proclaimed town boundaries, are illegally selling municipal land.

Kambonde said buyers started developing their land after the town was mapped and proclaimed in 2015. He said the council tried to engage all the developers involved to explain to them that what they did was illegal. They were urged to voluntarily demolish their structures, which they did not do.

“Before they occupied the land, the town was already mapped. Their structures mean we have to remap the town plan because they do not form part of the town plan. Some have built in the middle of planned roads; some have built where the planning was for institutional land. We have to plan the town according to the map. The mapping of town is a very expensive exercise since it is done by experts via aerial surveys,” Kambonde said.

A letter that was sent to involved parties informed them that it was a criminal offence to occupy, alienate, buy, sell or develop municipal land without written approval of both the town council and the urban and rural development minister.

“This practice is exposing Oniipa's status as a town to the risk of being downgraded, altered or even abolished. Should we as residents or prospective investors of Oniipa want to have this town harmoniously planned and developed sustainably, then we should start playing the role of whistleblower to fight all the unlawful activities we see happening in this town,” the letter read.



Kambonde said the illegal structures were for both residential and business purposes.



“Residents of Oniipa must take note that the town council has formulated and adopted by-laws, systems and processes that are aimed at coordinating the development and operation of the town council as provided in the Local Authorities Act. While the council is working around the clock towards achieving notable milestones on this, the general public must be sensitised that this exercise requires time as it requires the engagement of various stakeholders,” Kambonde said.



In August, the town council caused tensions after it listed the house of NDF soldier Timotteus Ileka as an illegal structure and scheduled it for demolition. Ileka threatened to shoot anyone who dared to demolish the incomplete building.



The council, it appears, backed off and he has now completed his house. Kambonde, however, said that the matter was far from settled.



“All we need is to get ourselves in order by obtaining a court order. Our plan is not to demolish people's structures, but we would like people to volunteer to remove their structures by themselves. We cannot afford to redo the town planning,” he said.



ILENI NANDJATO