Africa-Press – Namibia. SOME RESIDENTS of the Mix informal settlement say they are tired of empty promises, and are calling on leaders to provide them with electricity and other services.
They also need public toilets, a clinic, schools, a police station, a playground, open market, and a community hall, residents say.
Ndinelao Nalihende (31) says living without electricity is no walk in the park.
She says she and her friends used to collect wood for cooking at a nearby farm, until the owner covered his fence, making it impossible for them to access wood.
“I now make use of a gas stove, which I refill for N$60. I can only refill it in Windhoek,” she says.
Jackso Haidenga (51), a taxi driver, says leaders keep making empty promises, while residents’ circumstances remain unchanged.
Edward Hangula (35) says he has been living at Mix since 2000 with his family, partner, three children, and other relatives.
“There is an incomplete school building at the location, and I don’t know if it is a public or private school, because my children commute to Windhoek to attend school.”
On top of this, the price of fuel has increased several times this year already, he says.
The unemployed Ndapandula Hautoni (26) says: “We are living in darkness. It is not safe at all.”
MORE PROMISES
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya says high mast lights have been installed at the settlement, although they are yet to be connected and switched on.
The city is waiting for NamPower to connect the lights, she says.
“NamPower has assured us they would connect these lights soon. In terms of toilets, we have connected three service hubs where each service hub has five communal toilets, two showers, and water taps at Mix,” she says.
Amutenya says a public meeting with the residents was held at Mix on 24 October to engage them on the recent progress at the settlement.
Windhoek Rural constituency councillor, Piet Adams, says according to a recent meeting some areas in the settlement have been proclaimed and are awaiting electricity services.
“We are facing challenges with electricity, but it will be on the agenda of our meeting with the mayor and her administrators,” he says.
Mix settlement has newly built toilets which are not in use yet.
“The Khomas Regional Council is awaiting a request from the local development committee to identify areas where public toilets are needed, and we will attend to it once funds are available,” he says.
Adams says the Windhoek Rural constituency has taken the initiative to set up a small garden at the constituency office aimed at encouraging constituents to initiate similar projects in their backyards.
“We have engaged Lodestone Mine to provide job opportunities for locals residing in the constituency, and have reached an agreement that CVs will be sourced from the constituency office if jobs become available,” he says.
Adams says new projects for the settlement’s youth include a hand-printing art project in conjunction with Unisocial group.
A primary school is under construction at the settlement, while an early childhood development centre has been completed, he says.
The councillor also says various community engagement sessions have been held at Dordabis, Groot-Aub, farm Stinkwater, Rooisand, and farm !Areb.
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