Questions over Twaloloka fire
WALVIS BAY - Authorities have questioned the cause of a second fire at the Twaloloka informal settlement that destroyed over 27 homes yesterday.
The 27 shacks were on a piece of land where 154 structures burnt down in July last year.
However, firefighters and residents managed to save the 27 shacks from the devastating fire.
No one was injured in yesterday’s fire. Ironically, the latest fire happened just a day after the Erongo governor Neville Andre and Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes announced the construction of 121 houses for the first fire victims of Twaloloka, who are temporarily sheltered at Otweya, would start next week.
Interestingly, several residents raised the issue about the 27 shack owners that are not included in the list of Otweya residents that will be receiving new homes during the meeting held on Tuesday.
Forbes shortly after firefighters brought the fire under control said that an investigation will be launched to determine the exact cause of the latest fire.
“This is a big concern for us. We spoke about the houses for the other fire victims yesterday and today we have shacks burning. The issue of the 27 shacks were raised yesterday and today they are burning,” said Forbes shortly after touring the remaining part of the settlement.
“The person responsible for this fire will be brought to book. I won’t say it is, but it seems that the fire was started deliberately.”
He added this kind of action cannot be tolerated as the town is already battling with the housing issue.
“One person’s greed is now costing several families their homes. This is not a problem we will solve overnight and need a permanent solution. Hence, people should just remain calm. We are working on finding a permanent solution,” he said.
Local councillors and officials held an emergency meeting yesterday to find a temporary solution for the latest fire victims.
New homes
Andre yesterday told New Era government through the Office of the Prime Minister will avail building materials to construct the 121 houses on land that was allocated by the Walvis Bay municipality.
“This was an emergency that is why government responded to the Otweya disaster through the Office of the Prime Minister. Government will on average spent between N$50 000 to N$60 000 on each house. The recipients will have to build the houses themselves under the guidance of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN),” Andre explained. He added residents will only be responsible for their water and electricity connections and will have to pay rates and taxes and other related services. “Initially, there were 155 families, however, 22 of them were members of the SDFN and already got their homes last year and we also scrutinised the victims’ list and removed people that were not supposed to be there. That is how we got to the 121 families,” Andre said.
He added the construction will start next week and is expected to be completed before the end of March. The SDFN housing model will be used for the construction of the Otweya structures. The houses will consist of a bedroom, kitchen and a bathroom and can be extended, according to the governor.