Stefanus Nashama
Residents at informal settlements in the Samora Machel Constituency say they find it hard to reach their homes due to improper and unpaved roads in the area.
Thomas Natangwe, a resident said since he started living in the informal settlement in 2010, improper roads have been a challenge to many residents.
“Some people who own cars park far from their ghettos, which is risky because thieves may break into the cars or worse, steal them,” he said.
He also indicated that many residents in these areas walk long distances to and from the tarred roads where they are dropped off or get taxis and buses for transport.
“The zigzagging is just too hard for the cars,” he said.
Sakeus Tangeni another resident shared the same sentiments, saying uneven roads in these communities are a challenge to those who may want to buy things that require transport to their homes.
“It is also a big challenge in case of emergencies. Services like fire fighting, paramedics, police and ambulances also become hindered. Imagine someone is fighting for their life in his or her shack, which is about six kilometres from the tarred roads where the ambulance has to stop. There is a high possibility for such persons to lose their life because the ambulance cannot reach the shack,” Tangeni said.
Criminals such as robbers and thieves are also targeting these communities.
“They wait for people taking shortcuts, which makes it easier for them to grab or steal things, and run to hide somewhere the police cannot reach,” Peneyambeko Uusiku, a resident of Handino Hiishongwa district said. In response, Samora Machel Constituency Councillor, Nestor Kalola confirmed that rough roads are a challenge in informal settlements, and results in poor service delivery to the residents.
He explained that because of the unplanned nature of these areas, there has been poor road infrastructure development, with lots of narrow, unpaved roads.
The councillor indicated that the road issue is not part of the Regional Council’s responsibilities but he has however, submitted a proposal to the Windhoek Municipality requesting for the current budget to include the construction of gravel roads in informal settlements to enable proper service delivery.
“Every service requires roads. You cannot bring about more development without proper roads in these areas. It is really a challenge,” he said.
However, Kalola stated that people should submit their proposals to the City of Windhoek Community Development before erecting shacks because they end up blocking the ways, which makes it difficult for other people who stay far, and for the municipal to pave the narrow and improper roads. He said although these communities are not planned and demarcated, it does not mean they do not qualify for paved gravel.
“It is only that people themselves block the ways, which has become a challenge to them,” Kalola said.
The Councillor said he was informed that the current budget will cater for the construction of gravel roads in the constituency.
“At this stage, I do not know when this will be implemented, but we hope it will soon materialize,” he said.
