Okalongo — The Omusati Regional Council has promised the Onandjaba settlement residents that developmental projects in the area should get off the ground by June this year. The regional council was responding to complaints from the community in the Okalongo Constituency.

The residents delivered a petition to the office of the Omusati regional governor nearly two weeks ago, demanding an answer to their grievances within 14 working days.

Residents wanted to know why Onandjaba settlement is not 'developing into a village council', 16 years after its promulgation as a settlement.

Its settlement status makes it impossible for residents to 'build own residential properties or properties for busines purposes', the residents claim. They are also agrieved by the asbence of sewer ponds, a drainage system and electrification in the settlement.

Last week regional council officials led by the chairman of the Omusati Regional Council, Antonius Shileka, and Omusati Regional Council chief regional officer Protasius Andowa held a meeting with members of the community at Ombaja Traditional Authority offices. Andowa promised that developmental projects would get off the ground by June this year.

However, he also informed the residents of the hiccups in the process, especially with the results of the surveying work that made it necessary to re-survey the area with aerial photography imaging. This slowed down the process as certain aspects had to be repeated.

Members of the public demanded to have the response in writing.

"I do not lie, take it from me. I am standing here in my official capacity, therefore the information that I am giving to you is correct, even if I do not have a written statement," said Shileka.