Plans underway for new Rundu council office - mayor
Three years after works and transport minister John Mutorwa urged the Rundu Town Council to prioritise constructing a proper office building, the situation remains unchanged.
Residents and officials have over the years expressed growing concerns over the run-down state of the offices, yet the council's building remains in a dilapidated state, with only minor renovations underway.
Currently, the council’s staff operate from government-owned offices, some of the oldest buildings in town, situated on land belonging to the works ministry.
Working on the problem
Speaking to Namibian Sun last Thursday, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga, explained that the council is in the process of transferring part of the land from the works ministry to the town council.
"We are in advanced stages of this process. As a council, we cannot rent land that we own. Yes, we have taken some materials in our possession to improve the system with the ministry of works to subdivide the area. Once we finalise the subdivision, we will be able to start building," Kanyanga said.
The mayor further noted that the design for the new office building is in an advanced stage, with the first portion of funds for groundbreaking likely to come from the urban and rural development ministry.
"Once that’s done, we will proceed with the groundbreaking and basic construction work. We’ve been pushing this. When we came into office, we decided it was high time for the council to stop renting offices on its land. That’s why we initiated this process," he said.
"It was budgeted for us to receive about N$30 million annually over three years, totalling N$90 million, speaking under correction," he added.
Mutorwa’s instructions
Speaking to national broadcaster NBC three years ago, Mutorwa stressed the need for the council to acquire its stand-alone building, saying the current one was old and in a deplorable condition.
He urged the town’s leadership to address the Rundu's infrastructure issues, especially as these affect the council's capacity to serve the community.
At the time, Mutorwa also revealed that the government was in the process of transferring several urban properties to the Rundu Town Council, urging the elected officials to identify a suitable site for building a proper office complex.
"Leadership must focus on these things. When the council has property, it has money. The council must have a proper head office, a proper, proper head office. The town council is the most immediate link to the community, isn't it?" he said.
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Residents and officials have over the years expressed growing concerns over the run-down state of the offices, yet the council's building remains in a dilapidated state, with only minor renovations underway.
Currently, the council’s staff operate from government-owned offices, some of the oldest buildings in town, situated on land belonging to the works ministry.
Working on the problem
Speaking to Namibian Sun last Thursday, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga, explained that the council is in the process of transferring part of the land from the works ministry to the town council.
"We are in advanced stages of this process. As a council, we cannot rent land that we own. Yes, we have taken some materials in our possession to improve the system with the ministry of works to subdivide the area. Once we finalise the subdivision, we will be able to start building," Kanyanga said.
The mayor further noted that the design for the new office building is in an advanced stage, with the first portion of funds for groundbreaking likely to come from the urban and rural development ministry.
"Once that’s done, we will proceed with the groundbreaking and basic construction work. We’ve been pushing this. When we came into office, we decided it was high time for the council to stop renting offices on its land. That’s why we initiated this process," he said.
"It was budgeted for us to receive about N$30 million annually over three years, totalling N$90 million, speaking under correction," he added.
Mutorwa’s instructions
Speaking to national broadcaster NBC three years ago, Mutorwa stressed the need for the council to acquire its stand-alone building, saying the current one was old and in a deplorable condition.
He urged the town’s leadership to address the Rundu's infrastructure issues, especially as these affect the council's capacity to serve the community.
At the time, Mutorwa also revealed that the government was in the process of transferring several urban properties to the Rundu Town Council, urging the elected officials to identify a suitable site for building a proper office complex.
"Leadership must focus on these things. When the council has property, it has money. The council must have a proper head office, a proper, proper head office. The town council is the most immediate link to the community, isn't it?" he said.
[email protected]
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