Residents of Otjiwarongo have petitioned the municipality, calling for improved service delivery and compliance with a directive issued by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development.

The petition includes debt relief, water provision, land allocation, and public engagement.

Residents demand refunds of N$1,550 allegedly paid for faulty water meters, which they claim were imposed on them, as well as to address land administration.

Protestors called on the municipality to correct cases of double allocation of residential plots and called for an investigation of allegations surrounding the allocation and sale.

“The town council alleges that they submitted the lease of pensioners of Otjiwarongo. We demand that the town council release the said names of persons by the community," said spokesperson of the community Marchellinus Sanambi.

“We came to the municipality for water and housing issues. Even if we pay, the bills are just going higher," said Habel Geiseb.

“The Minister must come again, James Sankwasa must, and explain to the people what he said before so that we can also get peace,” added Rencia Hoeses.

The community said the municipality failed to comply with the circular from the Minister of Urban and Rural Development on the debt relief exercise.

In addition, residents accused the town council of failing to engage the community on issues affecting service delivery, saying public meetings are often convened only after decisions have been made.

The petition was received by the Municipality's Chairperson of the Management Committee, Namibia Kandume.

"I want to assure you we are going to attend to this petition, we are going to study this petition and we are going to give you feedback in the timely manner that you requested us to do so.”

Protestors gave the community until the 8th of September to respond.