Windhoek
Another alternative housing building method was launched in the capital yesterday, this time by a company called Project 38.
The local group, whose shareholding is reported to be 75 per cent Namibian and 25 per cent Dutch, claims to be able to construct a decent two-bedroom house for between N$3 000 and N$3 500 per square metre, which is far below the private sector’s average price of no less than N$6 000 a square metre.
Project 38 yesterday launched its Green Wall Building Solution that utilizes materials like silk calcium, silicate and Ytong aerated concrete, which is a product made of sand, lime and cement.
The company says it can construct a decent conventional house within two days as most of the building is constructed with prefabricated panels. However, financial institutions still do not finance alternative building methods in Namibia and the mayor of Windhoek, Muesee Kazapua, said the solution lies with local authority legislation and insurance companies that need to approve alternative construction methods. Kazapua added that the major concern of the municipality however is the acute shortage of serviced land.
“The most profound housing constraint in Windhoek and Namibia in general is the mismatch between supply of developable land and the demand thereof. Addressing this persistent imbalance will not only unleash the full potential of the housing market and its contribution to the economy, but will also address social aspects related to sustainable and affordable housing,” said Kazapua. He added that unprecedented increases in house prices continue to reduce the majority of the population’s ability to access affordable housing. “This is because such high prices are not supported by any economic fundamentals, for instance an increase in household incomes,” noted Kazapua.
The mayor also lamented the lack of serviced land and called on the private sector to come forward with affordable solutions to the dilemma.
“The shortage of serviced land and the cost involved in servicing the land is prohibitively high, plus the process of allocating the land is quite cumbersome,” remarked Kazapua.
He continued that this challenge limits the provision of affordable housing, particularly for the low income segment of the market. “It is evident that the challenge is not lack of houses but the acute shortage of serviced plots for housing and commercial development. This was brought about mainly by the lack of adequate financial resources and bureaucracy in the land delivery process,” added Kazapua.
The mayor emphasized that the city has approximately 2 000 hectares of land available but the land is not serviced.
Kazapua also noted that the Windhoek City Council is in the process of assessing the current value chain process in terms of land delivery in order to find a permanent solution. “In addition to our efforts, I am of the view that participation of the private sector in finding a lasting solution to this national challenge is indispensable,” said Kazapua.