Tsumeb residents handed over a petition to the Tsumeb municipal council a week ago, demanding plots and equal treatment.
The petition reads: “Angry and confused residents of Tsumeb’s Kuvukiland, Saamstaan, Endombo, and Ondundu informal settlements are demanding answers from the municipality and minister Erastus Uutoni.”
The residents say they have been forgotten and are not considered, as their grievances have been falling on deaf ears.
Residents allege that some Tsumeb municipal council members were involved in illegally selling plots to unsuspecting residents. It’s been reported that a Kuvukiland committee member offered a plot to a woman in exchange for sexual favours.
They are now calling for the council committee members to step down and are demanding to elect committee members that are not to be selected by the municipal council.
The residents claimed they are being denied opportunities because they do not belong to Swapo or are not card holders of the political party.
“We want answers on these issues from the mayor.
Why is the municipality reluctant to work with a legally registered organisation like the Tsumeb Community Concern Group, which is a legally registered non-profit and non-political organisation whose mandate is to represent and address concerns of Tsumeb residents?” a resident asked.
Other allegations are that some members of the Tsumeb municipal council have unregistered multiple plots and shebeens, while families in the community are forced to live in one-bedroom sized plot.
The petition further accuses the municipality of tribalism, claiming that most of the municipal council staff hail from the same regions and are of one tribe, leaving qualified residents unable to secure jobs at the municipal offices.
Residents also highlighted other issues that have to be addressed, such as contaminated water, prepaid meters and writing off of municipal debts.
Residents told The Namibian that failure to respond to residents’ grievances will lead to them camping in front of the municipal offices until they receive feedback.
Tsumeb mayor Matthew Hangula has confirmed that the petition has been received and the residents will be responded to after the council’s meeting on 25 November.
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