Rudolf Gaiseb
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development handed over 28 new houses in Windhoek’s Goreangab Extension 4 to public servants as part of the Informal Settlement Upgrading Pilot Project (ISUPP) on Friday.
The ministry’s executive director Nghidinua Daniel said, the project targets low-income earners, and these houses were particularly meant for soldiers, police officers, nurses and teachers.
He confirmed, “The 28 houses are a combination of two-bedroom freestanding and one-and-two-bedroom flats that would cater for various income levels of our beneficiaries.”
Minister Erastus Uutoni said: “We have entrusted the construction part to the City of Windhoek and the National Housing Enterprise to continue the excellent work they have been doing for the past three years.
These houses are constructed in three phases over 12 months, with the final stock expected to be delivered in April 2025, and beneficiaries will be identified in line with the criteria of the ISUPP,”.
Uutoni said so far, the ministry had received hundreds of applications from individuals who want to benefit from the project, and this was done transparently via an advertisement placed on print media platforms.
“The installation of required services on the remaining 224 erven in Goreangab Extension 4 is still being finalised,” he added.
These plots are expected to be completed in 2025, and will result in the construction of at least 400 housing units.
“The new housing policy guides that we focus on initiatives such as the ISUPP, which is an expansion of our efforts to provide affordable housing solutions for low- and middle-income families.
“Through smart partnerships and innovative financing models, we aim to increase the availability of quality homes that not only improve living conditions, but also stimulate economic growth and social cohesion,” he said.
Uutoni noted that the ISUPP, which was commissioned in June 2020, had successfully delivered over 700 affordable and quality houses for residents of Windhoek’s informal settlement areas.
“Through the ISUPP, the government intends to eliminate shacks in our informal settlements by upgrading serviced plots with formal structures. Once the pilot project is completed, plans are at an advanced stage to approach other local authorities in the country to implement the same project in their localities,” he added.