No confidence in Okahandja town council
In a petition delivered on Thursday, residents of Okahandja's informal settlements bypassed local municipal authorities and directed their demands to John //Khamuseb, the Governor of Otjozondjupa Region, citing deep frustration and loss of confidence in the municipal town council.The petition paints a dire picture of the Okahandja informal settlement, which has existed for over 20 years with minimal development and inadequate service delivery. Residents expressed concern over a lack of transparency regarding payments made towards infrastructure upgrades, including contributions of N$165 for services that have yet to materialise.
The community accused municipal committee members of corruption and displacement, alleging that people are being forcibly moved from their long-time homes without explanation or support, often relocated further from critical services like water points, clinics and schools.
The Okahandja town planner was also named in the petition as allegedly colluding with the committee to undermine residents’ rights.
The petition also calls for the total and unconditional cancellation of debts owed by senior citizens, along with equitable access to pensioner tariffs across Okahandja, including within the informal settlements. Residents argue that pensioners, regardless of where they live, should benefit from the same financial relief and support in line with the principles of social responsibility.
Heavy burden
The petition also demands the cancellation of the RedForce Debt Management contract. Community members claim that the external debt collection agency was appointed without proper consultation or any publicly available council resolution. They argue that RedForce has become a burden on already struggling residents and insist that all debt recovery responsibilities be returned to the municipality’s internal departments, where accountability can be more easily ensured.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission must look into corruption at the Okahandja municipality. Fishrot is in jail, oilrot the same, but the landrot here in Okahandja can’t be caught. Something must be done,” said Haindere Sizege, a member of the Okahandja concerned group
The petitioners insist that these matters be escalated to the President and emphasise that the governor, as the regional representative of the head of state, must take immediate action.
Response
Responding to the community’s concerns, //Khamuseb emphasised the wide scope of his responsibilities, noting that he had only recently concluded the State of the Region Address (SORA). He explained the logistical and administrative challenges of addressing all grievances promptly but affirmed that feedback from relevant ministries and agencies would follow.
He acknowledged the receipt of the new petition and reaffirmed that it is the government’s constitutional obligation to engage with the community. The governor assured the residents that he would meet them on 17 August in the informal settlement of Okahandja.
In the meantime, tensions remain high in Okahandja, with residents calling for transparency, accountability and urgent intervention from national leadership.