By: Rodney Pienaar
The Outjo municipality will need an injection of N$66 million in order to formalize its informal settlement, its mayor Samuel !Oe-Amseb said.
The Outjo informal settlement is one of the fastest growing in the region and this is due to factors such as migration from rural areas for employment opportunities, the mayor said.
“Formalising the informal settlement comes with many activities such as bringing portable water and electricity, as well as proper sewerage systems closer to the people. And this can only be done when there are funds. Decent housing is much needed for them and also quality road infrastructure,” he said.
He added that the informal settlement has been growing uncontrollably due to a number of developments the town has seen over the past years such as the malls.
“In terms of development in the town the council has managed to build mall of course with the assists of funding but what was not properly planned and check-out for was the growth of the informal settlements and the influx the developments could have.”
“Furthermore, we must understand that people living in informal settlements deserve clean water like any other Namibian regardless of where they live or who they are or who they are working for.”
Furthermore, the council is also planning to source N$15 million in order to set up a Vocational Training center and to build more housing units in new extensions, !Oe-Amseb said.
“Realisation for this VTC is very critical for our dropouts and other adults who are interested to up-skill themselves. It will further create economical value for the town through job creation. I would like to urge the business community to join hands with the municipality in order to bring development at the town,” he said.
