Abandoned constituency building left to vandals

SORRY STATE … The Eenhana constituency office is in a sorry state and has been vandalised. Photos: Contributed

Despite several media reports on the dilapidated state of the N$1,4 million Eenhana constituency office, the Ohangwena Regional Council has not yet demolished the building.

The constituency office is situated at Onambutu village and has been condemned due to poor workmanship. This has resulted in the constituency councillor and staff operating from an office at the Onambutu Community Hall since 2016.

Office construction started on 13 May 2008 and was completed on 30 January 2009.

Last year, The Namibian reported that during the 12-month retention period, no defects were detected in the structure of the office. However, in 2013, a diagonal crack was detected in the floor of the building.

Contacted for comment, Ohangwena regional governor Walde Ndevashiya said the executive directors in the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and the chief regional officer will provide a comprehensive response on the regional council stance.

“I do not want to pre-empt what the statement will say, but it will be released today,” Ndevashiya said.

‘FOLLOW PROCESSES’

Ohangwena chief regional officer Fillipus Shilongo said processes must be followed in terms of the State Finance Act when a building becomes uninhabitable.

“We cannot just go straight and demolish, we have to follow the processes.”

“However, after all the investigations from engineers and experts, it is agreed it will not be habitable anymore. Now, for us to demolish the building, we need approval from the treasury.”

Shilongo noted that the regional council had not yet finalised the process of applying for approval from the treasury.

“It remains uninhabitable for now until we complete the whole process,” Shilongo said.

‘VANDALISED’

A video shared on social media recently depicts the building as vandalised, with no door handles or electrical sockets, broken toilet pots and stolen bulbs.

The video also revealed that the building has became an animal shelter. Shilongo said those who enter the building are trespassing as it is locked and fenced.

In terms of hiring a security guard, Shilongo said it would be a good idea, but reiterated that the building is locked.

“Nobody is given permission to go inside the building. In fact, even the person who took the video has trespassed.”

Shilongo noted that he had sent a team to assess the situation and provide guidance yesterday

‘YOU HAVE THE RIGHTS’

Responding to criticism that the government has abandoned the building, Shilongo said the regional council is responsive and is attending to all the challenges it faces.

“That’s why when we realised that the building was cracked, we made an urgent plan to construct something that can host the constituency councillor.”

Shilongo said media reports that the contractor, Pasinami Construction CC, is nowhere to be found, are incorrect.

“The company is still available and the consultants are also available. When we first experienced the problem, we were in touch with everyone. We have all their details.”

Shilongo said the construction was supervised by qualified consultants, and the defect could not easily be detected.

BULLDOZING PLANS

Last year, The Namibian reported that the regional council was planning to demolish and reconstruct the constituency office building.

Speaking on the issue at the time, Ohangwena Regional Council spokesperson Silas Nepembe said a joint site visit was carried out on 12 April 2013, and the contractor was ordered and expected to repair the cracks after the retention period.

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