KARASBURG: The Karasburg East Constituency in Namibia is set to witness significant strides in land delivery, as Councillor Anseline Beukes, elected under the Landless People’s Movement, focuses on addressing land and water issues in the region. Beukes has committed to ensuring land delivery, a primary reason for her election, despite the ongoing water scarcity challenges.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Beukes emphasized the importance of land and water for true development in the constituency. She highlighted that although land is available, the scarcity of water poses a significant challenge. For the 2024/2025 financial year, the council has allocated N.dollars 1.5 million for the servicing of land, including water provision, at the settlement of Ariamsvlei, which has 474 erven available. Of these, 80 erven have been allocated to households to alleviate congestion, with a water tank provided for these households by a local farmer.
Beukes also revealed plans to revive the dormant Build Together program
me at Ariamsvlei, allowing those who receive erven to construct proper structures. She noted that materials such as bricks and cement bags have been available since 2013, and there are plans to start a brickmaking project for the unemployed to produce quality bricks. These bricks could be sold to entities interested in developing infrastructure in the settlement, including the upcoming SME park and truck port.
The councillor underscored the constituency’s ongoing water challenges, with rural areas relying on a water truck shared with the Berseba Constituency. This arrangement often leaves farmers without water for extended periods, forcing them to travel long distances to access it. Beukes mentioned plans by the constituency office and the Ministry of Agriculture to install water pipes from a fountain in the Gabis area to better serve these remote areas.
Additionally, Beukes expressed concerns about the social issues affecting the constituency, particularly alcohol abuse. She questioned the values of a soci
ety where individuals prioritize providing alcohol over essential needs like food, emphasizing the destructive impact of such choices on the community.