SWAKOPMUND – Two war veterans in Erongo have ventured into the property market to generate a decent income for their families.
They told New Era that despite facing numerous challenges, especially in the construction phase of their projects, they used their grants of N$180 000 and N$200 00 to build flats.
Johanna Ananias, who previously worked in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare received a grant of N$180 000 from the ministry, which she used to renovate her house and build three backyard flats. Ananias (52) is one of the first 10 veterans in Erongo who got grants from the ministry in 2011. She also runs a shop and is happy she used her grant wisely compared to other veterans, who squandered their grants on alcohol.
“I only borrowed about N$30 000 from the bank to cover additional costs of the construction,” she said.
Ananias explained that she generates about N$6 000 in rentals while she also makes additional income from her shop that she renovated with some of the money from the veterans grant.
“I currently employ two people but overall I am supporting more than six family members from the earnings from my business,” she said.
Namibian Defence Force (NDF) member 43-year-old Emilie Shatilwapo, who is also a war veteran, opted to invest the N$200 000 grant she got from the ministry in property rather than buying a car.
“We realised that this was the only way we could secure long-term income for our family,” she says.
Her husband, Paul, who was instrumental in the construction of the flats at their home in Kuisebmond, decided to mould his own bricks as a cost-saving measure and also ensure that the grant covered at least 95 percent of their construction.
“It basically covered the whole construction. We only took out a loan for the finishing touches and stuff such as the door frames,” he explained.
According to him, they also scouted for a very reasonable professional builder to ensure that everything went smoothly. The couple makes about N$8 000 per month from rentals and they use the money generated from these rentals to support their immediate as well as extended family members.
“Two of our children are currently enrolled at a private school in town while my eldest attended college last year, thanks to the rental income we make,” he said.
Both veterans say the ministry’s grant scheme is indeed a good initiative that can alleviate poverty and create jobs if applied correctly by recipients.