More residents of Okakarara occupy land illegally

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The Okakarara Town Council’s management committee chairperson, Golden Katjatako, has said the number of people who have occupied land illegally at the town has increased from 150 on Friday to 400 by Monday.

Katjatako in an interview with Nampa on Monday said council is busy negotiating with them to get registered so that they can be relocated to another portion of land situated between the Okakango informal settlement and Pamwe residential area.

He however could not say how many residents had registered for the relocation programme by Monday.

On his part, the chairperson of the alleged land grabbers, Sigrid Tjehiua, said all 400 members he represents at the newly occupied site refuse to move to the proposed area.

“The councillors must first channel clean drinking water there before talking about relocating people from where they have camped since last week,” he said.

Tjehiua stated that his group continues to grow at the portion of land situated near the Kambazembi Royal Traditional Authority, where members of the Namibia Shack Dwellers’ Federation are also constructing houses.

Okakarara Mayor, Asnath Jazukuka on Friday condemned the action, saying it is illegal and alleged that the residents’ actions are politically motivated by those who lost to her during the regional and local authority elections.

Jazukuka further warned that residents who refuse to be relocated to the new site will be dealt with individually, and would be forced out through legal means.

Jazukuka said some of the illegal occupants at the new site come from Windhoek, Outjo, Okondjatu, Walvis Bay and Okamatapati.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency