Allexer Namundjembo
The City of Windhoek says it has resolved the matter involving a house built without municipal approval in Havana Informal Settlement earlier this year.
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the homeowner approached the municipality after compliance directives were issued and requested that some of the conditions be relaxed.
Amutenya said the city considered the request and revised some of the conditions, subject to strict compliance measures.
“As part of the agreement reached, the owner committed through a sworn affidavit that the structure will primarily be used for residential purposes, while limited charitable activities such as Bible studies, prayer sessions and soup kitchen activities may take place,” she said.
She said the house is still incomplete and no activities other than approved completion works may take place on the property until the building is fit for occupation.
The remaining approved work includes placing corrugated iron sheets, fitting window glass and smoothing the floors and walls.
Amutenya said no further finishing work is allowed beyond what has been approved.
“The owner accepts full responsibility for occupying an unapproved structure at their own risk. The owner is bound through the oath to demolish the house and rebuild it at the correct site to be appointed by a municipal official during the organisation of the area done in strict adherence to the development and upgrading policy and the municipal building regulations,” she said.
She added that the City of Windhoek will conduct weekly or bi-weekly inspections to monitor compliance.
Windhoek-based community activist Sem David welcomed the agreement, saying the decision to allow the family to complete the house was positive.
“It is very exciting news to have noticed that the city of Windhoek has reached consensus with the residents and agreed to not demolish the house,” he said.
David said his engagement with the city was aimed at highlighting delays in land delivery and the need to speed up the process.
“As soon as the demarcation and environmental impact assessment (EIA) are done, there must be acceleration to landownership. This will help people living in the informal settlement to improve their living conditions and be able to own land immediately,” he said.
He said the family appreciated the outcome and thanked the city leadership for reconsidering the matter.
“I am so excited, especially that my people are now given permission to complete their building and for the condition that city leadership has put up. It is really a milestone achieved,” he said.
Earlier this year, the City of Windhoek ordered the demolition of the house after discovering that construction had started without approved building plans.
At the time, Amutenya said city officials instructed the homeowner to stop construction because the area was still under incremental development and no approval had been granted.
The city had raised concerns that the property, which was allocated for residential use, appeared to be hosting church activities.
Efforts to get comment from the homeowner were unsuccessful.
