Walvis Bay deputy mayor floats shack levies to curb fire risk and raise disaster fund

Walvis Bay deputy mayor Sara Mutondoka has informed members of the public that the council is planning to introduce shack levies at the town.

Mutondoka at public meetings held in March said the levies would be paid by homeowners who accommodate shacks in their backyards.

“The more shacks you have in your yard, the more you pay. It is a penalty. We continue to have multiple shacks burning in yards. When it happens, the fire victims need immediate shelter and necessities such as tents, mattresses, blankets and food.

“People all over the county assist, but the people responsible must also bring their part in the disaster. We must create a fund that could assist when disaster strikes,” she said.

Mutondoka said the levy amount has not been decided on yet, adding that it requires input from residents.

Meanwhile, the news was received with mixed feelings.

“It seems like an idea that can work. The town is not failing entirely because of the municipality. We need to realise that having so many shacks in one yard is both a health and fire hazard. How can you allow up to 20 shacks in one yard?

“They will obviously all burn down in case of fire. We are putting stress on the municipality,“ resident Lea Healao says.

“It seems like a punishment. Landowners receive their bread and butter from the shacks. Some of us cannot afford to feed our families, even while we are employed.

“We have shacks to earn money in an honest way, and now the municipality wants to charge us, just because they cannot control their town’s situation,” Nameya Lotto says.