Oshakati — A number of residential erven will soon be available in Oshakati for low- and middle-income earners.

This was said by the re-elected mayor of Oshakati Onesmus Shilunga during his swearing-in at Oshakati on Friday.

According to Shilunga, the servicing of at least 400 erven reserved for low- and middle-income earners at Ekuku is about to be completed and that will be followed by another 2000 erven at Ehenye. At present, surveying of the 2000 plots at Ehenye is about to be completed.

"Speaking of low- and middle-income earners, I want to be well understood that when we speak of low- and middle-income houses, we mean properly built houses that conform to the town's standards. Sometimes they are referred to as affordable formal houses," said Shilunga.

Apart from the low-cost housing, Shilunga said the Oshakati Town Council has also appointed a surveyor who is expected to start with the survey at Okaku Kiipupu where 270 erven have been reserved for high-income earners.

"In a nutshell, I want to share with you that I will continue with the concept of a paradigm shift with the aim to promote development in our town, despite the challenges," he said.

Shilunga was re-elected during the office-bearers' election held at Oshakati Town Council last Friday. Katrina Shimbulu, who ceded her mayoral chain to Shilunga two years ago, also failed to hold on to the position of deputy mayor and is now an ordinary councillor together with RDP Councillor Roney Petrus.

Ndamononghenda Hamunyela replaced Shimbulu as the deputy mayor. Gabriel Kamwangha, Johannes Shilongo and Loise Shivolo have been elected as members of the Management Committee, with Kamwangha as the chairperson. The new members were sworn in by Oshakati Magistrate Alpha Haihambo.