Councillor urges residents to move out of riverbeds

WINDHOEK, 17 APR  – Moses //Garoeb Constituency Councillor, David Martin on Tuesday urged residents who have erected shacks in riverbeds and under electricity poles, to relocate to safer areas.
Martin’s appeal comes after a woman and her three-year-old son were swept away by floodwaters in the Abraham Iyambo informal settlement in the capital Monday night.
The woman, her partner and two children were in their shack, which stood in a riverbed. The man reportedly managed to escape with one of the children, a three-day-old baby. The body of the woman, Saima Thomas, 32, was found Tuesday morning and the search for her son is ongoing.
“The constituency office donated 18 zinc sheets and seven wooden poles to the survivors to construct a shack so they can at least have shelter over their heads,” Martin said.
Meanwhile, speaking to Nampa after the body of the woman was found, Vokalenda Julitha, a resident of the area said people are forced to live in riverbeds because of the high prices of land in Windhoek.
“Land in the city is so expensive it leaves us with no choice but to put up our shacks anywhere where there is space,” she said.
Ismael Filimon, another resident, echoed Vokalenda’s sentiments, saying that even if he wanted to move, there is nowhere to move to.

NAMPA