Samora Machel toilets still broken after two years

Samora Machel constituency community leaders have asked the City of Windhoek to fix toilets in the area that have been broken since 2021.

Other grievances include the need for pre-paid water systems, the implementation of pre-paid electricity, land ownership certificates and the development of schools.

The constituency accommodates areas such as Wanaheda, Havana, Okapale and Greenwell Matongo.

Community leader Renciah Gaes told The Namibian yesterday they are frustrated with the slow response from relevant authorities in addressing the challenges faced by their constituency.

One of the key complaints Gaes noted was the poor state of facilities, which poses a significant challenge for the community members who rely on them.

“Those toilets have been reported since last year. Last week, I also followed up regarding the issue,” she said.

The condition of the toilets is deteriorating daily due to a lack of maintenance by the City of Windhoek. Despite being called out to service the toilets, City authorities have reportedly not been able to address the issue effectively. This neglect has resulted in a worsening state of the facilities, which poses a significant concern for the community, Gaes noted.

“It has been over two years since the City has attended to these toilets. Over two to three years ago, we requested for a standpipe for the Okapale people but it still has not been done,” Gaes said.

OKAPALE NEIGHBOURHOOD

The concerns about toilets also cropped up at last weekend’s meeting at Greenwell Matongo.

During the meeting, several issues were discussed, including the need for pre-paid water systems, repairs to standpipes and Havana toilets, the implementation of pre-paid electricity, issuance of land ownership certificates, development of schools in the Okapale area, and the establishment of improved taxi ranks.

According to Gaes, people from the Okapale area have to walk long distances to collect water for daily use as a result of the unavailability of public water taps.

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PREPAID ELECTRICITY

The residents of Okapale and Havana continue to complain about the lack of electricity which not only hampers their daily lives, but also limits their opportunities for economic growth and personal development, said Gaes.

“People who have lived in these areas for over five to six years still face a lack of electricity,” she said.

The lack of electricity has also made it difficult for them to tackle crime in their areas.

“There is a need for at least five street lights each at Okapale and Havana informal settlements,” said Gaes.

SCHOOLS

Gaes said there is also an urgent need for a school in the Okapale area due to the significant hardship faced by children in accessing education.

Currently, children residing at Okapale must endure daily journeys of over eight kilometres on foot to attend school and return home. This places a considerable burden on them, affecting their well-being and ability to focus on their education.

“Children from Okapale either have to walk to Martti Ahtisaari or Olof Palme in order to get to school,” said Gaes.

This also compromises the productivity of pupils, who are tired when they get to school.

“Establishing a school at Okapale would not only alleviate the physical strain on the children, but also ensure their right to quality education is fulfilled, promoting their academic development and overall growth.”

City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye told The Namibian he was not aware of the meeting, and advised the leaders to make an appointment with the City to seek an audience with the relevant people.

The latest concerns come three years after more than 2 000 residents from the Samora Machel constituency demanded municipal services in the informal settlements. A group of concerned residents gathered at the open space at Havana to hand over their petition to the Windhoek mayor, however, there was no representative from the City of Windhoek present at the gathering.