Oshakati reviews Omatala priceThe Oshakati town council is having the site of the old open market valuated despite already having sold it for N$2.5 million. Independent valuation of sold plot The Oshakati Town Council has asked an independent valuer to ascertain the real value of the old open market at the town. Mayor Katrina Shimbulu confirmed to Namibian Sun that there has been a lot of discontent about the sale of the prime plot to businessman Erastus ‘Chicco” Shapumba for N$2.5 million.
Among those that have expressed dissatisfaction is urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa.
It has since emerged that Shapumba, through his company Mouse Properties, paid N$2 million shortly after receiving a land allocation acknowledgement letter from the town council and has already cleared the 1.7 hectare plot to make way for development.
During an earlier interview, Shimbulu told Namibian Sun that the sought-after piece of land was worth only about N$900 000, but the council decided to sell it for N$2.5 million to the successful bidder.
The land deal has reportedly divided councillors at the northern town.
“Chicco paid the N$2 million for the land, but the council officials failed to inform the councillors on time. The money was transferred into the town council account and an invoice was issued without the council’s knowledge,” Shimbulu claimed this week.
Shaningwa recently met with the Oshakati leadership to iron out the issue. It has also emerged that Shaningwa ordered the council to refund Shapumba until consensus has been reached regarding the land sale.
Shimbulu claimed town councillors were misled by the council’s technical committee, which initially recommended that Twine Investment be offered the land.
“They advised us that we could just sell the land for N$2.5 million deliberately because they knew that the line minister would not support it,” she said.
“When FAI Square Development Consortium owned by business tycoon Frans Aupa Indongo withdrew their bid proposal early this year, that committee advised us to replace FAI Square Development Consortium with Twine Investment as the successful bidder.
“This was rejected by council committees, and then they decided to make things difficult for us. Currently we have a land valuer on site determining the exact land value and offering price.”
Shapumba has refused to comment on the matter.
ILENI NANDJATO