Settlements develop at a snail's pace
The Khomas region did not achieve several of its objectives for the development of its informal settlements.This came to light during Khomas Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua's state of the region address.
Among other things, the targets for erecting communal water taps and toilet facilities were not achieved.
She said delays related to contracts, the rainy season and the annual shutdown in the construction industry contributed to only 16 out of 76 communal toilets being built.
Only 21 communal water taps have been erected, despite the target of 54 water taps. "The remaining 33 taps have not been erected due to delays with contracts, the changing of erven by the community and the construction of new, illegal structures over the designated route of the water lines," McLeod-Katjirua said.
Only 300 meters of Sukkot Street was upgraded to a tarred road while 11 km of tarred roads were undertaken to be built. "The remaining part is transferred to when settlements are ready for the installation of services and infrastructure," she said.
It was also undertaken to enter into 1 000 agreements with residents to achieve the ongoing electrification programme, but only 281 agreements were signed.
With the aim of supplying 500 homes in the region with power, a year later only 109 homes have these facilities. The capital's power supply master plan has reached 57% completion in the past year.
However, the supply of renewable power to several neighbourhoods in Windhoek exceeded its target when 31.3 megawatts of renewable power was delivered, while the target was originally 29 megawatts.
Rural areas, homeless
In the rural areas, however, McLeod-Katjirua paints a different picture in relation to communal facilities.
In Windhoek's rural areas, 103 toilets worth N$1.2 million were erected. At Stinkwater and Hatsamas, 82 and 21 toilets were erected respectively.
A total of 387 food parcels worth N$167 000 were provided in nine constituencies and an annual budget of N$500 000 was set out for the provision of blankets and winter clothes to the homeless.
"The Khomas Regional Council has observed with concern the increase in people living on the streets, under bridges and without shelter.
"For the coming winter, items for a target of 1 100 beneficiaries will be procured and distributed to the vulnerable in all constituencies," the governor said. – [email protected]