Walvis Bay
Tempers flared and racial slurs flew thick and fast at the public meeting held last Wednesday evening in Walvis Bay to discuss a possible business development at the coast.
The meeting, which took place in the Kuisebmond community hall, was convened to discuss the proposed N$8 billion dollar Desert Rose real estate project, planned to be constructed between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
The Swakopmund lobby group, Swakopmund Matters, maintain that the project would disturb the environment.
However, the regional authority argues that the investment will create at least 5 000 jobs for local residents.
Desert Rose will feature a convention and exhibition centre with hotel facilities, to be supported by many secondary entertainment facilities, a shopping centre, office parks, restaurants, low- and high-density accommodation, residential properties, a golf course, public beaches and more. The beach areas will remain open for public access.
The proposed site is a 5-kilometre stretch of beach between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, commonly known as ‘Vierkantklip’, a very popular site for fishing, walking, swimming and private functions.
The site is part of the Dorob National Park and talk is that the site will be de-proclaimed and then transferred to the shareholders of the project, or to council.
A member of Swakopmund Matters, George Rautenbach, caused quite a commotion with a remark he made in Afrikaans, which did not sit well with many, who regarded the statement as distasteful and disrespectful. A hot under the collar Rautenbach said: “Meneer ken jy wat ‘n doos is. Dis waarin ‘n mens vuilgoed gooi en dis wat julle besig is om te doen. Vat julle projek na ‘n ander plek nie daar nie (Sir, do you know what a box is, it is something that you put your rubbish in, and that is what you guys want to do at Vierkantklip. Take your project to another place not here).”
The word “doos” is also a vulgarity in Afrikaans, when it is used to refer to a woman’s private parts to insult somebody.
The Governor of the Erongo Region, Cleophas Mutjavikua, fumed: “Those that are jealous and are against the project do not want to see our country developed. People need jobs. We are talking about mass servicing of land and mass housing. However, how will our people pay for it if we are against such projects that will create sustainable jobs?”
Also in attendance were the Mayor of Walvis Bay, Uilika Nambahu, and Johan Cornelissen of National Environmental Health Consultants.
“We will forge ahead with the development and it will be done in coexistence with our beautiful scenery that has been our main tourist attraction,” Mutjavikua elaborated.
Rautenbach said: “We have marketed Namibia as a tourism country. People do not want such a building, they want houses and jobs. This building will be utilised by international people. Will you allow me to come sell kapana at the building? Go build at another site not here.”
This stirred up more emotions, with some residents standing up to remind him of the former colonial oppression and the benefits previously advantaged Namibians still enjoy at the expense of the vast majority.
Businessman Desmond Amunyela, who is one of the shareholders of the project, was clearly irritated by the comments. He reminded Rautenbach and others that they should know how to address other people respectfully and behave themselves, especially in the presence of national leaders.
“There were dunes once there where you built your house, Rautenbach. And certainly when the bridge between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay was built there were Damara terns breeding in the area, and they are still around. No one complained about the houses that are occupied by whites along the coastline, but yet you want to stop a project that will create at least 5 000 jobs,” Amunyela said. Businessman Jonny Doeseb asked Rautenbach if he and his ilk can count how many blacks live in Kramersdorf suburb in Swakopmund.
“It’s only occupied by whites and a few blacks and yet you want to tell us not to build at Vierkantklip. I wonder how many of you have even voted during the previous election, and how many of you are registered voters. Who are the Swakopmund Matters anyway?” charged Doeseb.