Maria David
BUSINESS tycoon Erastus ‘Chicco’ Shapumba said that he is ready to kick off with construction at the site of the old open market in Oshakati, but the project is being delayed by the ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Shapumba stated that the project would create much needed job opportunities both during and after construction.
“I have submitted all the need documents to the Ministry, but the minister does not appear to be interested,” he said.
He added that he has already spend a lot of money that could have been invested elsewhere.
Shapumba won a court battle against the Oshakati town council over the ownership of a prime piece of land where Oshakati’s old open market (Omatala) was located.
In 2016, the council sold erf 1342, which measures 1.7 hectares, to Mouse Properties Ninety-Eight, solely owned by Shapumba.
The price tag was N$ 2.5 million.
However, last year, the Oshakati Town Council resolved to refund Shapumba and put the land up for sale again.
Shapumba did not take it lightly.
He took council court and won.
The council was also ordered to pay the legal costs.
Nearly a month after Shapumba won, Ben Hauwanga of the BH Properties wrote a letter to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development withdrawing his objection to the sale of Erf 1324 to Mouse Properties Ninety-Eight.
The letter stated that he supports the sale, at the initial price as agreed to between the Oshakati Town Council and Mouse Properties Ninety-Eight.
“In this regard, we specifically wish to highlight that the Chicco Group, of which Mouse Properties Ninety-Eight is an affiliate, is currently significantly invested in developing business properties in Namibia and has been a major aid to the economic and social transformation of the northern communities in particular,” read the letter dated 31 May 2022.
The letter further indicated that the decision to give full support to the development envisaged by Mouse Properties Ninety-Eight on Erf 1342 is in line with the idea that Chicco Group is a household name in the Namibian business circles.
In July, a petition was issued to the Ministry of Urban and Rural development signed by over 1 000 local business people and community members wanting to see the off take for the construction of the open market.
In their petition they indicated once the construction is completed development in the town will occur and many of the people will be employed.
