By Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, July 19 – The former residents of Lwanyanda informal settlement in Katima Mulilo are facing dire living conditions, as they continue to grapple with the lack of access to safe drinking water. Their houses were demolished in September 2022, leaving many of them with no choice but to set up makeshift structures along the road leading to Mafuta, and another camp opposite the Tobias Hayinyeko in Cowboy.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the displaced residents have refused to leave the area, citing reasons ranging from the proximity of schools their children attend, to running small businesses in town to sustain their livelihoods.
One of the residents, Ndala, expressed their determination to stay put until a suitable solution is found. “We are here to stay. Those who want us to leave this place must find an alternative place for us. We are Namibians and we can’t be treated like foreigners. Soon, politicians will be running to us to seek votes, but when we need them, they are nowhere to be seen,” she passionately declared.
Mary, another resident, reported that some of those who had left the Lwanyanda settlement have returned and begun constructing makeshift shelters again. The soaring rent costs and the unavailability of running water have forced them to resort to such measures. She also expressed frustration with the restrictions on water purchases, stating, “Water is a basic need, and you can’t put conditions on who can buy water and who cannot. These are the kinds of laws our leaders are enforcing on us, making us feel like slaves.”
The plight of the former Lwanyanda residents stems from the eviction notice issued by the Katima Mulilo town council in 2017, which led to the demolition of over 50 households in 2022. An in-depth investigation conducted by NDN revealed that many former residents are now cleaning their former plots, signaling their determination to rebuild and reclaim their homes.
With a make-shift structure already erected in the last seven days, this could be just the beginning of many more to come as the residents refuse to be displaced without a proper resolution.
The situation has shed light on the urgent need for the government and authorities to address the living conditions and water access of the displaced residents in a just and compassionate manner. As the residents continue their stand, the nation watches closely for a resolution to this pressing issue.- Namibia Daily News
