Geingob township up for debate

CONCERNED members of the public have up to Thursday this week to submit objections about the plan by a company owned by President Hage Geingob to build a township at Klein Windhoek.

Geingob and his ex wife, Loini, teamed up with Chinese millionaire Yuequan Jack Huang to benefit from the housing market boom by building 400 apartments, 24 villas, two mansions and a hotel in the lavish area of the Klein Windhoek farmlands, east of the capital along the road linking Windhoek to the Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Environmental consultancy firm Geo Pollution Technologies was appointed by African Sunrise Investment to assess the environmental impact of the proposed development.

“All contributions, comments and concerns must be submitted by 26 May 2016, ” said a document prepared by African Sunrise Investment this month.

It is in that document where Geo Pollution Technologies invited the public to write to them on any issues and suggestions regarding the proposed development.

Geo Pollution Technologies said as part of the public participation process of the environmental impact assessment, a public meeting was supposed to be held on Thursday, 19 May.

It’s not clear whether that meeting took place. Geo Pollution Technologies did not respond to questions emailed to them over the weekend. However, there are other ways in which the concerned residents can air their views, such as writing to the environmental consultancy firm.

That correspondence must include the name of the person concerned, the organisation represented, position in the organisation, contact details and any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which the person may have in the approval or refusal of the application.

Those interested can contact Andr eacute; Faul or Pierre Botha of Geo Pollution Technologies at africansunrise@thenamib.com.

Geo Pollution Technologies is obliged by law to include the public comments when they submit their reports to the environmental commissioner when they seek approval from the environment ministry.

The land measuring 39 hectares was sold to African Sunrise Investment in 2014 for N$393 000, which was way below the market value of above N$50 million. This land can accommodate over 1 300 low cost houses measuring 300 square metres each.

In fact, the N$393 000 for which the President sold the land, which measures 39 average football fields, is only enough to buy one low cost house in Katutura measuring 300 square metres for about N$350 000.

The President is not prohibited from being a businessman. However, his decision to join the lucrative property industry puts into question whether he will take a hard stance on the industry, which has been accused of milking the housing crisis for self gratification.

Geingob and his business ally will build the township through African Sunrise Investment, a firm in which he owns 20% through the Dr Hage G Geingob Family Trust. His ex wife, Loini, owns 20% in the same company, while the remaining 60% belongs to Huang (48).

Huang is a director of the firm, together with the President’s daughter – Nangula Axabi Geingob Dukes (38) and Helmuth Angula (40), Loini’s son.

The President insisted last week that he cannot be termed a partner of Huang because his shareholding in the same company with the Chinese millionaire is through the family trust.

This is despite proof that Geingob is the key trustee and beneficiary of the Chinese dominated firm, which listed the President’s address – his villa – as the company address where company meetings are held.

Geingob’s decision to partner and sell land to a Chinese millionaire also leaves a grey area on how the President will monitor what business is being conducted under his powerful name.