Africa-Press – Namibia. Over the past four years, Grootfontein has steadily worked towards rebuilding its image.
It has successfully constructed houses to replace one of the last remaining remnants of the apartheid government – the compound hostel. The town has also built a modern fire station after a long absence, and has recovered millions in long-standing municipal debt on the fiscal front.Yet, behind these achievements lies a town grappling with illegal grazing, unmanaged waste, drug abuse and deep-seated financial non-compliance. With just months to go before Namibians head to the polls for regional and local authority elections in November, Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises opens up about her council’s mixed legacy – one of an ambitious transformation but also relentless challenges.
In an exclusive interview with New Era as part of a pre-election series, Garises said what stood out during her tenure was a shift from reactionary governance to structured development through the town’s first-ever strategic plan.
“My plan in these four years was to build Grootfontein, shape it and change its face,” she revealed.
“We started with almost no policies – no direction. Today, we launched our Strategic Plan for 2023. It will run up to 2028. It’s the document that guides all our activities now. Before, we were just operating,” the mayor unpacked.
Garises listed infrastructure projects, debt recovery initiatives, and policy reforms as key achievements under her leadership. However, she also admitted that unpaid loans and a growing drug problem threaten the town’s progress.
Among the most notable developments is the near completion of 65 new single-quarter houses, replacing Namibia’s last remaining colonial-style single quarters.
“We initially planned to build 100 units, but because of limited funds, we managed 65. These are almost done – only painting and fencing remain,” said Garises.
Another milestone was the construction of the town’s first-ever fire and emergency station – a N$4.5 million project in partnership with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
“All these years, we only had one old fire truck. With the town growing, that was no longer enough. Now, we are building an emergency station to help everyone, especially residents in Blackestown, where fire cases are common,” she said.
The municipality has been actively repairing potholes and upgrading gravel roads across the town.
They made headway in servicing the long-disputed Woodland housing area, previously delayed due to flooding issues.
In addition, a prepaid water meter initiative is being rolled out to promote responsible usage and simplify bill payments.
Street naming efforts have also progressed in areas such as Soweto and Extension 4, helping improve navigation and emergency response services.
“For too long, we had no street names. If an ambulance were called, people would say ‘It’s the third street from the blue house’. That’s not how a growing town should function,” said the mayor.
Dissatisfaction
Although she has described the housing project as a success, the intended beneficiaries currently living in the Single Quarters have expressed dissatisfaction.
They said the houses do not meet their expectations.
The newly built houses, which consist of only a single room, offer the same amount of space as they already live in.
Alina Angula, a mother of four, said she had hoped for a home that could accommodate her entire family.
“These houses are too small. You cannot extend them, and they only have one bedroom. I currently live in a single room. Moving into another single-room house would be disastrous,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Naftal David, also voiced disappointment with the quality and design of the houses.
He said the beneficiaries were not engaged or consulted by the municipality to offer valuable input.
“People want to move to better housing, but these houses are not up to standard,” he bemoaned. The houses consist of one bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, with a small yard that lacks space for car parking or future extensions. Kaarina Tsheehama, who is also unhappy with the municipality’s handling of the project, said she was initially excited about the housing but disappointed upon seeing the completed units.
“That’s why we are not moving. We were forced to sign the papers without seeing the finished product,” she said.
Recovery
Garises highlighted the municipality’s partnership with the Red Force Debt Management, which helped improve revenue collection.
“We were struggling to collect money from businesses and residents. That’s when we engaged Red Force. But unlike in other towns, we told them no water cutoffs, and no seizing houses. Just reminders and negotiations,” she said.
“It’s because of this partnership that we are now buying equipment like the TLB and graders in cash. We don’t owe any third parties today,” she stated.
However, she warned that leniency does not mean impunity. The town has started enforcing overdue loans under the Build Together housing scheme. Garises said many beneficiaries have failed to repay their loans, blocking new applicants.
Challenges
Despite the progress, the mayor said Grootfontein is battling multiple issues that hinder growth, the most urgent being illegal grazing within town boundaries.
The situation is worsened by the lack of a formal animal impounding policy, although a draft has been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General for approval.
“Without a proper policy, we can’t just seize animals. If they die in our care, we could be sued. But once the policy becomes law, there will be clear steps from impound to auction,” Garises noted.
Illegal waste dumping is another headache.
“We clean today, and within an hour, people dump trash again. Some even take their whole household bins and throw them in the street,” the mayor lamented.
She said two contractors and municipal workers are constantly on the ground trying to clean the town, but more public education is needed.
Projects
In 2022, Garises launched a ‘Work for Food’ initiative to clear the overgrown hospital surroundings, which had become a hotspot for muggings and rape.
She praised the school garden project, supported by local farmers and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, as an effort to promote food security.
Under her administration, Grootfontein adopted or updated several critical policies, including property management, fleet replacement, street naming and risk management.
With the November election fast approaching, Garises believes the groundwork has been laid for the town to continue progressing.
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