Family of physically-challenged woman want govt to intervene

By Risco Lumamezi

TWO siblings of the physically challenged woman have expressed concerns on the failure of the allocation of the residential plot,  and basic services to their elder sister Mundia Sandema (40) , and are calling  government to intervene on the matter with urgency.

Elias Liyelelo , a younger brother expressed concern to the current situation of his sister whose house dwelling has been fenced off by the school fence which is under construction .

Since 2016 his elder sister has been living at the residential plot situated in Cowboy , a suburb of Katima Mulilo which is next to Tobias Hainyeko Combined School.

“ Our government they are building  a wall fence and they want us to move out from this plot and we don’t know where we will move to.” Said Liyelelo.

The construction of the school fence of the school named after Tobias Hainyeko, a former plan combatant has triggered angers and concerns to the family of the physically challenged woman who have been living on the plot for nearly nine years.

Liyelelo explained that “since 2016 we have been here  and as they are  building this wall fence  and they  are not even leaving a gate for the wheel chair for my sister here  to come through the house , they are just building the wall fence , so we don’t know how are we going to tackle this challenge”.

The school management wants the school to be fenced-off with a wall fence including the residential plot occupied by the family of the physically challenged woman, whilst the family claim that the school has extended its boundary to their plot.

He added that the Katima Mulilo Town Council don’t want to give them basic services like water and electricity as they want them to move out.

The Katima Mulilo Town Council say the mother was given a plot at NOVA , and the family say the plot belongs to their sister as the owner.

He also added that in 2024 , Mundia was also registered to get drought relief food and was later removed from the list after registering three times but did not get any food up to now.

Nanzila Sandema , a younger sister also expressed her concern that after raising her concern with The Katima Mulilo Town Council in 2021 , Chief Executive Officer of Katima Mulilo Town Council , Mr. Raphael Liswaniso visited them and promised to bring  water and other services at their plot but since then nothing was given to them , only seeing the construction of the school fence.

According to Ms. Judith Makata,  the mother and widow of four children said that they decided to grab the land  plot which they occupied since May 2016 after failing to pay rent.   

In October 2017, Makata and her daughter ( Mundia)  survived the incident after Katima Mulilo Town Council demolished her house which she claims was first constructed before the school.

However, the school principal of Tobias Hainyeko Combined School , Mr. Litiya Mutabelezi refuted allegations that the school did not extend its plot boundaries to the concerned family and he refused to comment, and he referred all queries to the Katima Mulilo Town Council .

Ms . Sonye Kafe, Public Relations Officer of Katima Mulilo Town Council told Caprivi Vision that the mother of the physically challenged Mundia Sandema was given a plot to go to Nova location but she however turned down the offer and refused to relocate to her new plot.

“ they don’t have a plot number they were given a plot to NOVA and refused to move” she said.

KMTC PRO added that the town council has exhausted all avenues saying “  there’s nothing we can do because we have already identified the problem and gave a solution to a problem , and she doesn’t want to move so it is very difficult for the town council”

Kafe refuted allegations that they were not promised to be rendered with basic services.

Deputy Mayor of Katima Mulilo Town Council, Hon. Lascan Sikosi who is in charge of the Suburb of Cowboy pointed out that the plot belongs to the school, and all of the residents who occupied the area of extension 19 were all moved to Nova to accommodate  and taking  development closer to the people.

“ currently now they are in a plot of the school unlawfully, we have allocated the plot to her already”

Hon Sikosi further clarified that “if she sold her plot to someone , she must take it back  because the place they are occupying was already allocated for the school , community hall and the sport facility for Cowboy and the is no resident allowed to stay in the institutional plots”.

Zambezi Regional Governor , Alufea Sampofu also told Caprivi Vision that he was not aware of the concern and he said he will take the matter with The Katima Mulilo Mayor, John Ntemwa and he said he will soon visit the family.

Nanzila further clarified that the Katima Mulilo Town Council does not want to give a residential plot to her physically challenged sister who is now aged 40 years.

“ if the Katima Mulilo Town Council would give a plot to my sister , which is written under her name anywhere else within the jurisdictions of Katima Mulilo, then we are ready to move anytime”

She added that the plot they are talking about which was sold by her mother , it was for her late elder sister, “ this plot was sold after when the rates and taxes escalated when it was handed over to RedForce Debt Management, and it was exchanged with my mother’s  plot given to her by KMTC , and now it belongs to the children of my late sister”.

They are asking from the general public , and good Samaritans to help them with basic services like water and toilet as they are currently drinking water from the well.