Andreas Thomas 

The National Council’s committee on housing has urged the government to play a more active role in land servicing to accelerate the formal development of housing across various local authorities in Namibia.

The committee recommended that the government draws lessons from Rwanda’s land and housing programmes, which facilitate the provision of affordable housing in urban areas, including in the capital Kigali.

These recommendations are contained in a report by the National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing, following a benchmarking visit to Rwanda in September 2024. The report was tabled during a council session by committee member Bennetty Busihu on Tuesday.

The five-member parliamentary committee undertook the visit to understand, among other matters, the role the Rwandan government plays in making land available to the urban poor and landless citizens.

The committee highlighted the rehousing programme, designed to address the proliferation of informal settlements in Kigali.

“The programme is centred on redeveloping these areas by constructing high-rise apartment units for the residents without displacing residents unnecessarily,” the committee said adding that the Rwandan government oversees the design of rehousing units to ensure affordability. 

The committee found that the government regulates construction costs and sets conditions for private developers to guarantee the affordability of housing projects.

The committee also noted that Kigali’s affordable housing programme includes rental units, ensuring that even middle-income-earners who are yet to buy homes have access to reasonably-priced accommodation.

The government provides land and basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and roads, while inviting private developers to construct affordable housing.

In motivating the report, Busihu said the committee urged the government to subsidise servicing of land in local authorities as this would reduce housing costs and improve the availability of affordable homes.

“Major local authorities, should introduce a structured rehousing programme, with the support of the central government to redevelop informal settlements without displacing residents,” Busihu said. -Nampa