All residents evicted from the Endobo area in Tsumeb have been permanently relocated to a newly established settlement on a portion of Portion 49-761.

The relocation was carried out following a directive from the minister of Urban and Rural Development to provide the affected residents with a permanent place to settle.

A total of 35 people were allocated plots measuring 300 square metres and above at the new settlement area. 

The land, which initially belonged to a mining company, was identified and surveyed to accommodate the relocation programme.

Beneficiaries Justine Kashava and Sikare Johannes expressed gratitude. 

"Oh, we are so grateful because we stayed outside Endobo for a very long time. We named that place Osire; we've been there for five years."

"I'm happy because I've my own plot; now I'll never bother anymore with the municipality or whatever. Now I'm part of them."

They now want the new location to be named the Sankwasa location.

Although the area was developed under urgent circumstances and was not fully planned, residents have access to water through two prepaid meters. 

Provisions are, however, still to be made for sewerage services, while arrangements for electricity are underway following the submission of a notice to CENORED for the installation of the necessary infrastructure.

Public Relations Officer for Tsumeb Municipality, Stella Imalwa, says, "The municipality would like to see the affected group or this affected community organise themselves in terms of just starting up saving groups. As you can see, just on the other side of the road, we have Somnstaan already, so with that, we believe that if they can start at least savings while they're waiting for the service to come, then in the future, we don't have this. Make sure the house is all spread out going forward."

The municipality spent approximately 300 thousand to relocate the residents to the new area. 

Beneficiaries are currently paying N$50 per month for their plots.

The relocation follows an earlier land allocation initiative in which 47 beneficiaries, also evicted from Endobo, received serviced plots that were subsequently sold to them.

Imalwa says the completion of the relocation process provides a permanent solution for all Endobo evictees, while efforts continue to secure funding for infrastructure development at the new settlement.