Pensioner says BH stole land

Pensioner says BH stole landClaims he was short-changed in property deal A 96-year-old man wants the businessman to build him a brand new home as the one constructed eight years ago is falling apart. Eenhana pensioner Fillipus Ndaoya has accused prominent businessman Ben Hauwanga of stealing his plot, where he built a multi-million business complex at the town some eight years ago.

Ndaoya, 96, is now bitter and has no kind words to describe Hauwanga.

He said Hauwanga was supposed to pay him N$2.5 million as compensation for the plot in question, but opted not to honour their written agreement which he said burnt in a fire sometime back.

“But he only compensated me with a four-room house of poor standard, no strong foundation and it is already falling apart as a result,” Ndaoya claimed.

The old man said he had abandoned the house, believing it would collapse soon.

“I want him to build for me a house of good standard, otherwise he should pay N$2.5 million as per agreement reached between him and I,” Ndaoya demanded.

He noted his house, which Hauwanga demolished on the plot where the business complex is built, was of good quality and consisted a business building and a 12-room house.

According to Ndaoya, the Eenhana Town Council in 1999 paid him just N$70 000 to vacate the plot so that the development of Hauwanga's complex is not delayed.

In an interview with Nampa on Monday, Hauwanga denied the private transaction with Ndaoya and agreeing to pay him N$2.5 million compensation.

“I bought the plot from the town council and I paid more than N$100 000 for it. I did not negotiate or sign an agreement with Ndaoya in connection with that land, as it belonged to the council the time I bought it,” Hauwanga claimed.

Hauwanga, however, admitted that he built a house for Ndaoya and paid him a sum as a token of appreciation and not compensation.

Hauwanga said he built a N$40 000 house for Ndaoya and gave him N$80 000 after the senior citizen informed him that he had no other place to live in Eenhana.

However, Ndaoya denied Hauwanga gave him any money and spoke about the house that is falling apart.

Eenhana CEO Walde Ndevashiya confirmed that the council on 23 April 1999 paid over N$70 000 as compensation on the same property.

Ndevashiya also confirmed Ndaoya and Hauwanga had a private transaction agreement regarding the plot without the involvement of the council.

Ndevashiya could not provide proof of the deal between Ndaoya and Hauwanga saying it was “purely a private deal”.

Ndaoya insisted he had paper proof of the agreement but it was burnt when one of his sons torched his house.

Ndaoya was also a businessman in the town and owned several business outlets at Eenhana, Omundaungilo, Oshuuli, Okongo, Oheti yaShikambe, Onambutu and Onakalunga branded as Carry Brothers in the colonial era.



NAMPA