Farm 37 relocation delayed due to finances

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Lack of funds is among the challenges preventing beneficiaries at Farm 37, near Walvis Bay, from relocating.

Located about 7 kilometres east of Walvis Bay, Farm 37 was identified in 2015 as a solution to the land and housing backlog.

Eight years later, the dream became real when the municipality transferred plots to 50 residents in July, who voluntarily agreed to relocate.

Joel Kashimba and his partner Hilma Lineekela are the first and only residents of the isolated place thus far.

Walvis Bay residents receive erven at Farm 37

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The Walvis Bay Municipality has allocated erven at Farm 37, on the outskirts of the town, to the first 50 landless people.

The Mayor has urged the first beneficiaries to start building their structures as of today.

Located about seven kilometres east of Walvis Bay, Farm 37 was identified in 2015 as a solution to the land and housing backlog.

Residents have since been waiting to get plots, but bureaucratic processes and a lack of funds to service the land delayed the move.

Landless residents at Walvis Bay express frustration

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Another group of landless residents at Walvis Bay have expressed frustration to the council over the slow pace of delivering serviced plots to them.

The group called "Tulipamwe" marched to the municipality and handed over a petition demanding council to give residents plots at Farm 37, an area about 10 kilometers from the town. 

Members of the Tulipamwe group say they are low-income earners who rent backyard shacks in the harbor town.

About N$300 million needed to service Farm 37

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About N$300 million is needed to service Farm 37.

This is according to Municipal Councillor Victor Leroy, who has emphasized that there is no serviced land available in Walvis Bay to sell to landless residents. 

Speaking at Thursday's council meeting, IPC Councillor Leroy Victor mentioned a few areas within Walvis Bay that were scheduled to be serviced but were not. 

Mixed emotions in Walvis Bay Council on relocation of people to farm 37

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Farm 37 has divided the Walvis Bay Council, with Swapo councillors slamming the decision to relocate people to the area, which has limited services installed.

Seven of the nine councillors present at a council meeting on Thursday voted in favour of moving residents to Farm 37, a location identified to decongest Walvis Bay. 

Last month, the mayor said the Council is ready to relocate the first 50 people to Farm 37, on the outskirts of Walvis Bay. 

Farm 37 residents will become land owners- Forbes

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Although there are only communal services at Farm 37, on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, residents there have been urged to focus on the fact that they will soon become landowners.

Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes says there is enough land in the new township for all residents.

Farm 37 is less than 10 kilometers east of Walvis Bay. It was identified in 2016 as the solution to the shortage of housing land in the harbor town.

Since then, thousands of landless residents have been waiting for the council to develop the area.

Close to 700 plots to be ready for occupation at Farm 37 outside Walvis Bay by early 2023

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In six months' time, close to 700 plots will be ready for occupation at Farm 37 on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, Erongo Region.

The Mayor of Walvis Bay, Trevino Forbes, and other local authority councillors held community meetings to update residents about ongoing projects.

Farm 37, on the outskirts of the harbour town, was identified in 2015 as an area to accommodate all landless residents.