New Era

MARIENTAL â€" The Mariental municipality came under fire at the first annual meeting of the heads of departments in the Hardap Region with the governor, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, on Wednesday.

The meeting was unanimous that the local municipality is doing little or nothing to provide developed land to those who need it.

Governor Hanse-Himarwa said Mariental is now "over-developed" and no erven or plots are available for further development.

"Unlike other towns, Mariental does not have town lands of its own. All the adjacent land at the town is in private hands and the municipality cannot develop plots for future growth purposes," she said.

The governor said lack of developed plots makes it almost impossible for the Hardap Region to attract professionals as there is an acute shortage of housing at the town.

"People wait up to one year after applying for a plot," she said.

She said the municipality should come up with regulations in terms of which plot owners would be forced to develop their plots and set up structures within a defined period or face expropriation.

Formerly advantaged residents of Mariental allegedly bought town land and are letting it lie idle for reselling at astronomical prices. This practice must be stopped immediately, she said.

"If landowners are reluctant to cooperate with the authorities and sell some of the adjacent farms at reasonable prices, land must be taken away from them if it is in the best interest of the majority of the people," the governor said.

Mariental's chief executive officer, Paul Nghiwilepo, admitted that there is a shortage of developed plots but said the municipality has started to develop erven.

The process will be completed within six months.

"We will develop 80 plots in Empelheim suburb, and 250 plots between Aimablaagte and Empelheim in order to integrate the two suburbs," he said.

In Mariental town, a total of 40 plots will be developed and sold to interested people, he said.

On the possibility of buying adjacent farms for development, Nghiwilepo said the government's Town Planning Advisory Board visited Mariental and advised the municipality not to purchase adjacent farms as there is enough land within the borders of the town that could be developed.

"As the municipality does not have money to buy one or two adjacent farms, we have decided to heed the government's call at the moment."

Nghiwilepo said the demand for low-income housing at Mariental is at present very high and the municipality will avail about 300 erven for this purpose.

"However, we will also cater for medium- and high-income groups during the development phase," he said.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hardap Region Charles Tjijenda highlighted some of the achievements of the Hardap Regional Council.

He said a sound financial management system has been put in place while financial statements for the 2004/2005 financial years have for the first time been audited by the Office of the Auditor General.

No cash flow problems were experienced during the period under review and an electronic cash register has been created for the first time.

Tjijenda said revenue collection has been improved through the introduction of new measures and the training of staff at settlements.

According to Tjijenda, offices for staff and the governor were constructed and some renovated, while six constituency offices were built and completed over the past five-year period.

All constituency offices were also provided with vehicles. He said all the critical posts were filled at the six constituencies and settlement administration improved with the approval of the new structure for settlements.

With regard to human resources, the recruitment of staff to key positions at all levels was completed, while the affirmative action report was promptly submitted for the first time in the existence of the Council.

Other highlights of the period under review were the construction of staff houses at Gibeon, Schlip and Stampriet as well as the renovation of the Klein Aub community hall with assistance from the Spanish Government.

"Hoodia commercialization and tourism development in the region as well as the funding of micro projects throughout the region and the supervision of sewerage construction at towns such as Rehoboth, Kalkrand and Stampriet can also be singled out," Tjijenda said.

The acting CRO said more than 90 percent of the Hardap Region has been covered under the rural electrification programme.

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