Residents of Omaruru in the Erongo Region have petitioned the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, after accusing the councillors of having snubbed their demonstration in which they questioned the town's stagnant development, increasing debts, and lack of job opportunities.

Demonstrating under the banner of Omaruru Concerned Members, the group demanded the removal of the council's management, claiming that the council ignores their plights. 

The residents are demanding that Minister Uutoni look into claims of unequal land allocation, houses without basic services, and poor service delivery.

They also want the procurement of services for electrification projects, prepaid water meters, and sewer master plans to be audited.

"We, as residents, are not toys. We, as residents, are not children that need to be tossed to and fro as the management feels. What we want is accountability for these services. The irregularities in procurement and the procurement service of the municipality have raised concern, as several projects, including the SME park at the single quarters, the sewer master plan, Luna Park gym equipment, the electrification of Hakahana, and prepaid metres, were not advertised at all. It is just services that were just brought into our faces, and we were supposed to just swallow. We want to know, as residents, what the way forward is, Minister Erastus Uutoni. We again urge that this be looked into," said group spokesperson Ferdinand Hengombe.

They also bemoaned the alleged fraud of land application forms, for which residents have been forced to pay since 2006, but applicants have yet to receive feedback or plots.

"Allocation has been an issue we have been asking and asking, and this is the greatest frustration of our residents at this particular point in time because we have applied and followed procedures, but at the end of the day, it takes 7, 8, 12, even five years or even three years; it is not right. Omaruru is part two currently, and we are about to go to a village because of the type of leaders that are basically playing around in the office and not doing their work but doing other things that are not supposed to."

Omaruru Mayor Vincent Kahua said the municipality did not snub the petitioners, but they are away on a budget-tabling trip to Swakopmund.

He, however, added that the council is aware of the housing and landlessness challenges that are being addressed, including plans to electrify 19 houses where some residents of the single quarters were relocated.

Kahua says the sewer network upgrade is underway to benefit all residents, and funding for the completion of the project has been made available.

On issues of prepaid water metres, the council says residents with high debt are the most affected by the automated system that allocates portions of the token funds towards clearing debt.

The mayor says the automated water system was put up after the community demanded the removal of Red Force Debt Management, which was set to help clear a debt of N$78 million in rates and taxes.

He added that the current management is competent to run council affairs.