Dordabis residents cry for resolution to land issue

Dordabis residents cry for resolution to land issueRobust approach crucial Dordabis falls under the Windhoek Rural Constituency and is home to 1 500 inhabitants. Residents of Dordabis say they want the incoming councillor to aggressively address the land issues and work towards improving the continuing scourge of poverty at the settlement.

During a recent visit at the settlement, situated some 93 kilometres east of Windhoek, residents shared their plight and expectations for solutions to these challenges, that they say have become part of their daily lives.

Dordabis falls under the Windhoek Rural Constituency and is home to 1 500 inhabitants.

A member of the Dordabis Community Development Committee, Patrick Jaarsak, said land ownership is one of the many concerns of the residents.

“Our people do not have land for both housing and grazing for their animals and, as it stands, we are living together with our livestock,” he said.

Jaarsak added that the land matter is an issue that the previous constituency councillors did not really address with the robustness that it required, adding that this issue has been ongoing for years.

“I have been a member of the development committee for the past five years and I can say from the side of the committee there is support and effort to address this matter but I think what is lacking is the robustness to address it. I think the incoming councillor should really prioritise this matter,” he added.

Another resident, 36-year-old Ricky Uirab shared similar sentiments, saying that the youth in the community have already submitted a number of proposals for potential self-employment projects in the community.

COLLABORATION

“Our incoming councillor must work together with us. Our young people are not lazy to work. We have already started with the gardening project and we have also handed in proposals for other projects such brick-making, so he must help us,” said Uirab.

On his part, newly elected Windhoek Rural Constituency Councillor, Piet Adams, noted that land is a sensitive matter and needs to be addressed in an orderly and amicable manner in order to find a lasting solution.

“I recently took office, so I still need to consult the relevant stakeholders regarding the land matter so we do not act like headless chickens when we address the issue. I also need to build a working relationship with both farmers and inhabitants of the constituency,” he said.

The councillor further said he is aware of the cries and frustrations of the community because of lack of land and the impact it has had on them.

Furthermore, another community member, 27-years-old Ricardo Garobeb, said apart from the land issue, he wants the incoming leader to work towards bringing secondary and vocational education to the settlement.

“The high level of unemployment here is caused by the fact that most of the children here attend school until grade seven and they drop out and sit at home because there is no high school here. Many parents are mere farmworkers. They cannot afford to send their children to secondary schools which in Windhoek or Rehoboth,” he said. - Nampa