Uniformed forces among those occupying govt flats illegally

By: Josia Shigwedha

Works and transport ministry senior housing officer, Zaraida Haufiku, says law enforcement officers are their biggest problem when dealing with the illegal occupants at government flats.

Hauaufiku made the remarks on Wednesday after several government flats in Windhoek’s Ausspannplatz were welded shut over alleged illegal occupations.

Months earlier, Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi gave people illegally occupying government flats a deadline to vacate the properties.

Haufiku said it is difficult for the ministry to address the issue of illegal occupation when law enforcement officers are among those occupying the flats illegally.

“Because these people are busy bypassing electrical boxes because when the municipality comes and closes the electricity and water, they find a way to bypass electricity or they dig up the water pipes and take water from there and it is another cost on the ministry,” said Haufiku.

One of the illegal occupants is a police officer who says she has been residing at the flats for more than a year. The officer who requested anonymity explained that she is currently in a difficult financial situation and moved into the flat due to family circumstances.

“I am a government employee who is full of debt because I’m the only breadwinner for my family,” she said.

Another tenant, Litta Ipinge, who works as a cleaner at the Ministry of Defence, says she has been occupying the government flat since 2015.

Ipinge claims she applied for the flat through the proper process in 2016.

“When I applied, I went back to the ministry I was told I ws removed and I needed to reapply for the flat again,” said Ipinge. 

Fixed Assets Management Deputy Director, Ellah Nghishongo, said about 80 people are reportedly occupying government flats illegally.

“We have been managing with the high court of Namibia where they come in and do the eviction because the civil litigation means the office of the government attorney are the ones dealing with the evictions,” said Nghishongo.

Nghishongo has advised public servants to start looking for alternative accommodation early so they can apply for a government rental subsidy.

She said public servants can also opt for private rental accommodation, with government able to subsidise up to 20 percent of the rental amount.

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