Venaani condemns rejection by CoW

WINDHOEK, 08 DEC – Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) President McHenry Venaani on Thursday condemned the City of Windhoek’s decision to reject an application by the party to purchase a plot for a disabled man in Goreangab.

The request by the PDM to buy Erf 437 in the Goreangab residential area for Shambalula David Pameni was rejected by the management committee of the City of Windhoek (CoW) during their meeting last week.

“It is very shameful for the management committee to deny a Namibian living with a disability an opportunity to have a roof over his head,” Venaani said in an interview with Nampa Thursday.

Venaani submitted an application to buy the erf for N$51 200, but it was turned down and a suggestion was made that it be allocated to the next beneficiary on the CoW’s waiting list.
Windhoek Mayor Muesee Kazapua argued that the City’s policy does not allow for institutions, including political parties, to be accorded plots as part of their social responsibility.
“Policy dictates that plots in such cases can only be allocated to individuals, not to political parties,” the mayor said.

The management committee also indicated that Venaani’s letter for the request was not properly channelled, to which the opposition party leader said it was not his problem to see how the letter is channelled.

“My concern was just to make sure I deliver the letter to the highest official of the institution and for him to see how to channel it further,” Venaani said.

In a letter written to the former chief executive officer (CEO) of the CoW, Robert Kahimise, Venaani stated that Pameni lives in a shack in Okuryangava with his family.

One of the councillors who was in support of the application last week was Joseph Kauandenge of the National Unity Democratic Organisation.
Approached for comment on Thursday, Kauandenge said there was no need for the application to be rejected. He said it should in fact be reconsidered so that the beneficiary can at least get a roof over his head.

“Just imagine the beneficiary sitting in the chamber and hearing that we rejected an opportunity to afford him a roof over his head while someone was willing to pay for the plot and build the house. What would we say?” he asked. – NAMPA