Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Eliaser Ndeyanale
Published on 2024-04-11 17:00:00
The minister of labour, industrial relations, and employment creation, Utoni Nujoma, finds himself in a contentious situation over a family house located in Windhoek. The dispute revolves around a property previously owned by their late aunt, Alberdine Katjimune, who is the younger sister of their mother, Kovambo Nujoma. The house is situated in Katutura and was registered in the name of John Katjimune, the cousin of Nujoma and Usuta, after the passing of Alberdine in 2000.
According to Katjimune, the house belonged to Alberdine since 1986. However, tensions arose in 2009 when Nujoma and Usuta insisted that Katjimune vacate the premises after he got married, claiming that the house belonged to their mother. Nujoma went on to demolish the house in January 2020 and rebuilt it without permission, even going as far as labeling it as the ‘Utoni Nujoma residence’ on the house plan. The property is also in arrears of N$34,000 in unpaid municipal bills.
Despite Katjimune’s attempt to have water and electricity disconnected to prompt payment of the bills, Nujoma only paid N$14,000 to have the utilities reconnected. Katjimune and his siblings express a desire to sell the house and divide the profits, but Nujoma and Usuta are benefiting from the property by collecting rent from tenants, with the money being deposited into Usuta’s bank account.
Nujoma reached out to Katjimune on March 29 with an offer to purchase the house, but Usuta declined to engage in discussions when contacted by Katjimune on April 6. Nujoma explained that the house was originally owned by his mother, Kovambo, who left it in the care of Alberdine when she went into exile. Despite renovating and paying the bills for the property, Nujoma claims to have no interest in it, emphasizing his concern for the well-being of the current occupants if the house is sold.
Nujoma stresses that there is no dispute over the ownership of the house, stating that his mother entrusted it to Alberdine and her family. He highlights the importance of considering the residents’ living situation before making decisions about selling the property. Nujoma denies any involvement in removing Katjimune from the house and expresses a desire to avoid conflict within the family.
He clarifies that the occupants of the house are his sister, her children, and some students, including an orphan. Nujoma reiterates his lack of interest in the property and emphasizes the need for consensus among the residents before any sale is considered. He also refutes claims of eviction and emphasizes his efforts to settle the arrears on the house. Nujoma advocates for mutual agreement and transparency in dealing with the situation to avoid further tensions within the family.
Read the original article on The Namibian
