Helao Nafidi hits back at critics

RESIDENTS of Helao Nafidi are accusing the town council of only engaging in self-enrichment schemes and not caring for the community.

Among other things, the disgruntled residents have again renewed allegations of illegal sale of land to foreign nationals, particularly the Chinese.While residents are prevented from selling their land to foreigners, the town council sells plots to foreigners at exorbitant prices, they claim.They also claim the council does not allow land owners to add value to their properties.Another complaint is about the installation of water meters far away from their plots, resulting in them paying more for the repair of pipes when these are damaged.They have called on the town council to buy land from people whose land now falls under its jurisdiction to avoid conflict with village headmen.One particular matter that appears to have irked the community is the council’s purchase of a mahangu field belonging to Victor Hamata.The land deal was apparently negotiated by the Ministry of Education with the owner, but the town council later became involved and ‘renegotiated’ the deal.But, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Helao Nafidi Town Council, Michael Sheelongo, explains that all land within the town boundaries belongs to the council and had to be bought by it on behalf of the Ministry of Education.Sheelongo says although Hamata insisted he be paid by the Ministry of Education for his land, existing procedures are that such deals must go through the council.’The current procedures in place provide that any person residing within a local authority should be compensated by the authority concerned, using national compensation guidelines as approved by Cabinet,’ Sheelongo explained.He also rubbished claims of self-enrichment and illegal sales of unproclaimed land.He says when he negotiates with subsistence farmers for the acquisition of land for the council, he does not do so for his own gain, but on behalf of the council.On accusations that the council sells land mostly to the Chinese, Sheelongo said: ‘The Chinese are here to do business and create employment. And most of the properties acquired by these people have been purchased from indigenous people’.He also reminded residents to respect local authority regulations such as submitting building plans when they want to build or extend their houses for approval.