Martin Endjala
Residents of Aroab are growing increasingly frustrated with the sluggish development progress in their town, criticizing the Village Council for its failure to meet the rising demand for land on which to construct homes.
Jannie Jobs, a local resident and public member representative to the Council, recently expressed his concerns to the Windhoek Observer.
He said that since the new councillors assumed office in 2020, the town has seen minimal growth, despite residents’ repeated pleas for land.
“To this day, the promised land allocations remain unfulfilled,” Jobs said.
Further compounding residents’ grievances is the absence of banking facilities in Aroab.
“Without a single bank or ATM, many must embark on a 100 to 150-kilometer journey to Keetmanshoop for banking services. Most residents resort to card payments at local stores, but this option is mainly utilized by the employed or business individuals,” Jobs elaborated.
Jobs attributes the council’s perceived inefficiencies to its Chairperson, Erika Mienies. He alleged that she barred him from attending a council meeting last month.
He also criticized the council for holding meetings without subsequently informing the public about decisions made, a departure from the transparency observed in other towns such as Windhoek and Swakopmund.
This lack of communication, according to Jobs, leaves residents feeling sidelined.
He urges the council to swiftly address these grievances and be transparent in its operations, warning that residents might refrain from voting in the 2024 elections if the status quo persists.
Another resident, wishing to remain anonymous, voiced concerns over land allocations. The resident expressed astonishment at plots designated as ‘business land’ since the apartheid era, yet charged the same rates and taxes as residential plots.
The resident questioned the fairness of this system and emphasized its need for reform post-independence.
“While we residents occupy smaller plots, we’re charged similarly to those with larger tracts. This discrepancy hints at corruption. Those with more extensive properties should pay taxes commensurate with their size and intended business use. Moreover, some of their land should be reallocated to benefit those without plots,” the resident argued.
In response, Chairperson Mienies acknowledged residents’ concerns, assuring them that the council is actively addressing these issues.
Regarding Jobs’s specific complaint, Mienies refrained from commenting but pointed to the council’s ongoing five-year plan to resolve the town’s challenges.
“The strategy is yet to run its course, with another year remaining. We urge residents to be patient as we work to resolve these matters amicably,” Mienies stated.
