The Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, has clarified that the Rehoboth Town Council is the lawful owner of the land at Lake Oanob, following the expiry of a previous lease agreement after the area was incorporated into the local authority.
She acknowledged that the resort has continued operating privately without proper council oversight and that the township was never formally approved or registered.
!Nawases-Taeyele was responding to IPC MP Armas Amukoto, who questioned why a private entity was allowed to develop housing and resort facilities at Lake Oanob without the required approvals, permits, title deeds or payment of municipal rates and taxes.
Amukoto also raised concerns about possible sewage discharge into the dam, which could contaminate the community's water supply, and asked what measures were being taken to address the alleged irregularities.
The Deputy Minister said the lease agreement ceased to be valid when the area was incorporated into Rehoboth’s proclaimed local authority boundaries.
Consequently, ownership, administration and management of the land legally fall under the Rehoboth Town Council.
Despite this, the operator has continued managing the property privately, including selling and subleasing land, providing certain municipal services, and conducting commercial activities without council approval or oversight.
She said attempts by the council to negotiate a structured takeover and formalise its authority had faced resistance and legal challenges from the operator, who continues to claim ownership under the previous 50-year lease agreement.
The council has since established a committee to resolve the dispute, conducted an aerial survey and initiated a property valuation.
“ The valuation requested to determine the market value of the property in question has been finalised and forwarded to the valuer, who is currently undertaking the general valuation for Rehoboth Town Council, to provide a quotation for consideration. Rehoboth Town Council has completed the preparatory steps necessary to engage the investor on the technical and legal aspects of the intended action. The terms of reference for the valuation have been finalised and issued to a professional property valuer who submitted technical and financial proposals for the Lake Oanob valuation project. The financial proposal is expected to be received by 30 November 2025.”
!Nawases-Taeyele revealed that investigations found Lake Oanob township had never been formally approved or registered, meaning no lawful property transfers had taken place.
She said previous land sales were conducted privately between the operator and buyers through lease agreements without the council's approval.