Rudolf Gaiseb
Heather Erdmann
More than five years on, male students at the Namibia University of Science and Technology have been left to fend for themselves regarding accommodation in Windhoek.
This is because the Shangri-La Hostel (Nust male hostel) renovation remains incomplete since 2020.
Initially, the university blamed the slow pace of the project on Covid-19. Now, the blame has shifted to a reportedly cumbersome procurement process and limited financial resources.
Students say they fork out as much as N$3 000 each for a shared double room for while awaiting the completion of the hostel.
Progress
To date, only a section of the Shangri-La Hostel, accommodating 92 students, has been completed and occupied. No works have commenced on the remaining portion.
Recently, the university’s spokesperson, Cindy van Wyk, said the remaining renovations are expected to be completed in early July.
“Nust is cognisant of challenges surrounding the student accommodation shortage in the capital, and continues to engage and collaborate with willing private partners to ensure that students receive preference in nearby private accommodation,” she stated.
Visit
On Thursday, New Era visited the institution to assess the situation on the ground.
Upon arrival, New Era, following strict security protocols, was referred to Donovan Zealand, who heads the department of student services at Nust.
There, a deplorable waterpoint, broken pipes, peeling paint, leaking roofs, mouldy ceilings, broken windows, non-functioning geysers, deserted solar panels and ageing infrastructure meet the naked eye.Donovan oversees the facilities.
However, his responsibilities end there.He said questions regarding the renovation are beyond his purview.
State
The next stop was at the doorsteps of Michael Kisting, a career guidance practitioner at the institution.
He is well-versed on the matter.
Kisting said the renovated section of the hostel accommodates only 92 students.
Under normal circumstances, the Shangri-La Hostel accommodates up to 260 students.
“They have decided to open this side [pointing to the operational section of the hostel] for this year. It was closed since Covid-19. What we are encountering is a problem of leakages when it rains – as you can see,” Kisting said.
The renovations centre around plumbing problems, leaking roofs and replacements and electrical issues. “The accommodation crisis is huge. We just hope that as management promised, they’ll open this side next semester,” an optimistic Kisting said.
Procurement
The man responsible for the maintenance of the university’s facilities is Frank Puriza. He said they will award tenders to the contractors next week.
Puriza acknowledged that the electrical works tender is still out, with the deadline being 21 April 2025. “The plumbing work is done first. When the plumbing work is about 70% [complete], the painting is going to start. This is going to be towards the end of May. So, by the end of June, we expect to finish,” Puriza said.
He then pointed to a strenuous procurement process and financial limitations as major stumbling blocks.
“The structural assessments from the engineers took three consultants to come out and assess the entire building at Nust. That’s one of the reasons it took so long. The other reason is the approval from the procurement process. It takes long to get approvals. Then they have to do an open national bid in the newspapers and things like that. We needed to make sure that when the students return, we don’t have integrity issues,” Puriza said.
Genesis
Back in January 2023, the then-spokesperson Johannes Haufiku of the institution confirmed that the renovations had not even commenced.
“No work has commenced on this project,” he said at the time.
Haufiku blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the institution’s failure to execute the work.
In the same period, the female hostel was also renovated, which lasted about two months.
Asked why the female hostel repairs were treated with urgency, Haufiku told New Era that the extent of the renovations for the male hostel is quite extensive.
“They include replacing the roof structure, plumbing as well as electrical and structural works to ensure the building is fit for hostel accommodation,” he added.
This version was corroborated by Kisting on Thursday.
Irony
In 2023, the university advertised the tender to renovate the facility in question.
The unavailability of the men’s hostel at the time meant a private accommodation facility owned by United Africa Group (UAG) was contracted to provide accommodation for the students.
Right behind Nust’s library lies StudentStay, a newly built accommodation facility tailored for students and young professionals.
When New Era visited the facility on Thursday, only a pamphlet displaying contact details was provided by the security personnel.
Students on site confirmed the pricing. Efforts to obtain a comment from the entity were futile. Their website outline its vision as “to elevate student housing in Namibia by creating a vibrant and inclusive community where fruitful careers are built and lifelong connections are made”.
This facility is mostly inhabited by Nust students. They pay up to N$3 300 per student for a shared room.
Single rooms go for N$4 000 per student a month.
All units offer a fully equipped kitchen, including a stove, microwave and storage space, it further states.
The kitchen is shared. Other benefits include a study centre, gym, netball and basketball courts.
Students’ voice
Meanwhile, Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) leader Dorthea Nangolo called for the deepening of the student movement to remain resolute in the pursuit of a transformed education sector.
“The fight for a just and equitable education system cannot be fought in isolation. It demands unity of purpose, solidarity and a shared commitment to dismantling the barriers that hinder that right to education,” she said at the time.
Nust student representative council president Michee Masengo, during the Nanso General Students Council convention this month, expressed that the university’s Wi-Fi infrastructure struggles to keep up with the increasing demand for online resources and remote learning options. “Limited Wi-Fi coverage across campus and in some venues has made it difficult for students to fully engage in their coursework and access essential learning tools. We are fully aware of the importance of connectivity in supporting academic achievement and student well-being. We are committed to improving this infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing community,” he said.
The influx of new students puts additional pressure on our facilities, staff and support systems.
-Additional reporting by Edward Mumbuu
-herdmann@nepc.com.na
-rrgaiseb@gmail.com
Photo: Heather Erdmann