Windhoek
City of Windhoek Councillor Francina Kahungu has called for the fast tracking of the flexible land tenure system.
The Flexible Land Tenure Act (Act No 4 of 2012) regulations are yet to be promulgated and gazetted.
The flexible land tenure system (FLTS) was conceived as an innovative concept to provide affordable tenure security for informal urban settlers. The basic idea of FLTS is to establish a parallel interchangeable system that is complementary to the current formal system of freehold tenure.
The poorest of the poor, who cannot afford to acquire land will benefit greatly from the flexible land tenure system, as they would be in a position to own their own piece of land, Kahungu explained in an interview with New Era.
Many people, especially the informal settlement dwellers, cannot afford to acquire land by themselves, hence they organise themselves in groups. But, the land does not belong to individuals as a result they cannot call it their own, she noted.
There are more than 200 saving groups in Windhoek, she added.
Furthermore, Kahungu said much of the land in Windhoek is occupied by members of saving groups.
“But individuals within the saving groups can’t own land,” said Kahungu.
With the flexible land tenure system people will, among others, have land registered in their name and they can use it as collateral.
“I want to remind ourselves of the importance of having that system in place. It is currently not in place because we are waiting for regulations,” stated the Windhoek councillor.The flexible land tenure system has not received the due attention it deserves despite the potential it has to address the housing needs of especially shack dwellers, Kahungu further elaborated.
“Much of the land and housing problems can be addressed with the flexible land tenure system in place. The Flexible Land Tenure Act should be taken as a progressive instrument that will help in guaranteeing security of tenure for the urban poor,” she said.