Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has dismissed assertions government is doing nothing to fight the housing backlog in Namibia.
The PM said government is finding alternative ways to get the project that was halted in 2015 moving again.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila blamed legal disputes and underperforming contractors for incomplete houses.
During a courtesy visit to President Hage Geingob with the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) yesterday at State House, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said because of the importance of the project, government decided: “Let’s not sit and wait for the matter to be concluded by the court; without violation of court orders, we decided to engage with people on the ground to try and facilitate the settlements between the disputed parties were possible so that we can secure access to these houses to complete them and allocate. We are making progress”.
Responding to a letter by official opposition leader in the National Assembly McHenry Venaani, who threatened to mobilise Namibians to demonstrate and possibly occupy empty mass houses countrywide, she stated only 891 houses remain unoccupied, as they are
incomplete.
Through the N$45 billion mass housing initiative, government wanted to build 185 000 houses at a rate of over 10 000 a year between 2013 and 2030.
Only 4 130 houses were completed and handed over to beneficiaries. President of the CCN Bishop Sageus /Keib said the council is supporting government’s efforts, initiatives and interventions to address the socio-economic challenges.
Geingob yesterday reiterated that due to free movement in the country, people put up structures in remote areas that are planned for something else – and this forces people to leave in unfavourable conditions.
“Once structures are set up, it becomes difficult to move them. Now, government is again forced to develop those places with electricity, water and toilets to cater for their needs,” he explained.
/Keib said CCN is also concerned with the mushrooming of churches and the abuse of the institution of the church for personal enrichment and criminal activities.
Another area of concern was gender-based violence-related issues in the country.