Walvis Bay municipality suggests shack levy

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

Mutondoka explained at the meetings that were held at the town’s suburbs throughout March that the levies would be paid by house owners 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 shelters and necessities such as tents, mattresses, blankets and food. People all over the county assist, but people that are responsible must also bring their part in the disaster. We must create a fund that can assist when a disaster strikes,” she said.

Mutondoka said they were not sure what the cost of the levies would be, and that it requires input from residents.

The news was received with mixed feelings by residents.

“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 twenty shacks in one yard? They will obviously all burn down incase of a fire. We are putting stress on the municipality,” says resident Lea Healao.

“It seems like a punishment. Land owners receive their bread and butter from the shacks. Some of us cannot afford to feed our families, even when 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,” says resident Nameya Lotto.

Most of the fires at the town are caused by candles that are left on during the night.

Other incidents include faulty electrical cables that are connected from houses, usually supplying over 20 shacks with electricity.

Shack dwellers have also been warned numerous times not to leave children at home alone, as some fires are started by children playing with matches.

Other incidences are caused by shack owners who return from the bars intoxicated and decide to cook.

Despite educational campaigns from the municipality and fire department, the problem still persists.

Shack fires spread fast at Walvis Bay, as the town mostly experiences windy conditions, and shacks are built adjacent to each other.

A number of deaths have been recorded during fires, which also puts a burden on families to bury the victims.

One example is the fire which claimed the lives of a mother and daughter, Lineekela Ndeumyema (38) and Linea Kombada (16) who died in a fire on 5 June 2024 at Kuisebmond.

Six other shacks were also gutted in that blaze.

In August 2022, another 20 families exchanged their shacks with tents as a fire destroyed their shacks and all their belongings at the town.

A 38-year old woman, Ermelinda Dausas, and her two-year-old son, Cristian Dausab, died in the fire.