WALVIS BAY – About 690 fishermen are edging closer to their dream of becoming homeowners.
Housing in Walvis Bay has been a challenge over the years, resulting in many residents organising themselves into groups and applying for land at Farm 37, situated outside Walvis Bay.
The group is part of the fishermen who lost their jobs during the massive unprotected strike in 2015 and were later re-employed through the Government Employment and Redress Programme (GERP).
The fishermen, through the programme, receive about N$4 000 monthly, and have used this stipend to save over the past three years.
They also formed the October 2015 United Land and Housing Federation and, to date, have saved more than N$3 million to make owning their own homes a reality.
“Most of our federation members, who have been absorbed and employed in the hake and horse mackerel industries through the GERP, have managed to contribute and raise these funds. Furthermore, the federation is dedicated to promoting an entrepreneurial culture to discourage stagnation and lackadaisical attitudes by encouraging active participation in socio-economic activities,” said Thomas Mununga, a representative of the fishermen.
In addition, the federation aims to unite fishermen and work together to realise a fishermen’s village, fostering a bright future for them and their families in Namibia.
The group will host a fundraising gala dinner on Friday evening at Walvis Bay, where they will also be launching their township layout establishment plan for low-cost housing development at Portion 18, Farm 37. Through this endeavour, the federation wants to restore the dignity of fishermen through the development of a low-cost housing project that will build 720 houses on a land mass comprising 48 hectares, the fishermen indicated.
The event will take place at the Atlantic Hotel, and will be attended by Urban and Rural Development minister Erastus Uutoni, Fisheries and Marine Resources minister Derek Klazen, Erongo governor Neville Andre and Walvis Bay mayor Trevino
Forbes. Michelle Gomuses can be contacted at 0816010858 or Thomas Mununga at 0812268592 to obtain tickets.
-edeklerk@nepc.com.na