Martin Endjala
The illegal congestion of shacks is blamed for the recent fire disaster that left many families homeless in the Otweya informal settlement in Walvis Bay.
On the evening of 4 October, the shack fire which occurred on the premises of the Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE) destroyed over 70 houses.
The aftermath has left about 200 families homeless. Tragically, the fire claimed one life.
Festus Immanuel, the spokesperson of the Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group (WBTG), said devastating fires in Walvis Bay often occur in illegal structures.
“These structures built in the backyards of formal houses or on empty land, such as the current one, which happened on the premises of NHE in Twaloloka and the surrounding Otweya area,” he said.
According to Immanuel, as long as there are too many illegal structures crowded together, these shack fire incidents will continue.
Immanuel believes that people staying in these areas often consume too much alcohol, and while cooking under the influence, they may forget their pots on open fires, causing fires to start.
He said once a fire starts in one structure, it spreads easily to the next due to the flammable materials used to build these structures.
“In other instances, fires are caused by electricity overloads in backyard shacks, and usually, the fire spreads fast and easily to the next structure due to the flammable building materials used in the construction,” he explained.
He believes that the only solution to this recurring fire problem is to decongest Kuisebmond and relocate people to Farm 37.
Immanuel stated that the Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group has already moved to Farm 37, even in the absence of services.
“We believe all services will find us there. However, the Municipality of Walvis Bay is reluctant to meet us halfway,” he said.
At their new location, there is no tap water, only a water tank that they fill at their own expense.
Immanuel said they requested help from the municipality to fill the tank but have yet to receive a response.
“We believe those who were affected by the fire should be relocated to Farm 37, and all necessary assistance, like tents, food, and blankets, should be provided to them there,” he suggested.
During her visit to the affected families on Wednesday, vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for investigations into the recurring fire disasters in Walvis Bay.
She said these investigations are essential to prevent future incidents, as the damages are costly to both the government and the affected individuals.
Nandi-Ndaitwah called for calmness and patience while the government attended to their needs and emphasized that the police should do more to investigate fire outbreak trends.
The Windhoek Observer understands that affected families have until Friday to find an alternative shelter before the municipality starts removing their temporary shelters and tents.
During an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, Walvis Bay’s mayor, Trevino Forbes said the council is in proactive discussions with the line ministry to lobby for funds dedicated to servicing Farm 37.
He stressed that this area has become a pressing emergency that requires the council’s immediate attention.
Forbes indicated that since the appointment of the council’s chief executive officer, Victoria Kapenda, last month, the council has been committed to advocating for the community’s needs.
He said Kapenda’s commitment demonstrates her determination to tackle the challenges they face head-on.
“I believe that with her leadership and the support of our fellow council members, we can secure the necessary resources to address this issue effectively,” said Forbes.
