Nekundi kicks rogue soldiers, cops out of govt flats
Accuses tenants of playing music on full blast all night
The minister accused some tenants of splashing their housing allowances on alcohol while unlawfully living rent-free in state-owned accommodation.
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has declared war on soldiers, police officers and government employees illegally occupying state-owned flats.
He singled out law enforcement officers as the worst offenders and issued a stern ultimatum to either vacate the premises or risk forced removals.
Speaking during a no-nonsense meeting on Wednesday with tenants from four government housing complexes in Windhoek, Nekundi said time has run out for those unlawfully occupying state property.
“What pains me is that members of law enforcement, police and the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) are the worst offenders. We are supposed to uphold the law, not break it. But I’m coming. I will remove you,” he warned.
Nekundi added that evictions would begin as soon as police chief Joseph Shikongo returns from an undisclosed assignment on 7 June.
“I’m just waiting for Shikongo to return – once he's back, we act. If you're an illegal occupant, start packing. We can’t allow anarchy.”
Total reset
The minister criticised the apparent chaotic way in which government flats were previously allocated.
“People just moved in, and mistakes were made," he admitted.
He condemned the handover of keys to unauthorised individuals, including friends, and promised a total reset of the system.
“From what I have been informed and seen, the state of these premises is not acceptable. If we want order and sanity, then we must be intentional about what we allow. If you want a proper floor, you don’t settle for dirt,” the minister stressed.
He also announced that all tenancy agreements for government housing will be reviewed, with evictions for those who refuse to sign the new contracts. Under the new rules, housing allowances must be paid in full towards rent, not partially.
“We are entering into new tenancy contracts. If you don’t sign a new contract, you will be evicted; we have no choice. Some of you are paying only N$400, but that allowance is specifically for housing. The government does not provide you a housing allowance so you can use the rest for extra beer,” he said.
A privilege, not a right
The minister stated that the use of garages as living spaces would be prohibited and new measures – including security personnel, cleaners and a digital tenant tracking system – would be introduced.
“To those who have garages, a garage is not meant for accommodating extra tenants. It is for your car. Anything unauthorised must be removed properly,” Nekundi instructed.
He underlined that “living here is not a right, it’s a privilege. We must recognise that all of us receive housing allowances. That means you’re given the means to live wherever you choose, not necessarily here.”
The minister said all units would be inspected over the next two weeks, adding that the government will not foot the bill for any damage caused by tenants.
“We will only fix what’s our responsibility, not what you damaged. From now on, if we repair something, we take responsibility for it. If you're a private tenant and you break something, you fix it,” he said.
Respect your neighbours
A digital system will replace current manual processes to ensure transparency and prevent abuse, he added.
“No more manual processes. The system will be transparent, and internal auditors will have access. It will track who applied first and who’s next in line.”
Nekundi also addressed complaints of noise pollution and criminal behaviour at the complexes, including the cultivation of cannabis.
“You cannot live in shared government housing and blast music all night. Children are trying to study. You are adults. I will not tell you not to enjoy yourselves, but if you do, do it responsibly. Do not disturb others,” he said. - [email protected]