Uutoni challenges Rundu to deliver land to the poor KENYA KAMBOWERUNDU
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni has challenged the Rundu town council to provide land to the poor for housing, saying he was no longer enjoying going to the riverside town to listen to their problems but wanted to see people getting land and houses.
Uutoni, who was in Rundu this week to familiarise himself with a sewage problem that has made headlines over the past few months, told local authority officials and office bearers that he wanted positive results as far as land delivery was concerned.
“My leaders here in Rundu, I want to come back here and when I come back not only to sit around the table but to visit the site where our community shout and be happy after receiving land where they are going to build their houses. That is what I want and I hope I will be promised that today,” Uutoni said.
“You can’t pass 12 months without something concrete.
“The area that you do must not be too big, like maybe you want to create 500 plots. Even 100 is enough,” he said.
Revoking land
In response to the minister’s call, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga said plots had been awarded to developers but they were not developing them and the council would now look at ways to repossess them.
The Rundu town council over the years has failed to service land for the poor, as the town has been relying on developers purchasing un-serviced land, developing the area and selling houses to those who can afford to buy.
This situation has resulted in a number of illegal informal settlements being created as frustrated community members resort to occupying land without the blessing of the local authority.
Rundu has a population of about 100 000 people who rely on the local authority for municipal services.
kenya@namibiansun.com