GROOTFONTEIN – President Hifikepunye Pohamba says the Swapo Party-led government remains committed to the provision of affordable housing for all Namibians.
He was speaking at a Swapo rally held on Sunday at Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein.
Pohamba said the government will continue exploring venues to resolve the housing crisis facing the country.
“It is for these reasons that initiatives such as Build Together and Shack Dwellers Association of Namibia were introduced,” Pohamba told hundreds at the rally.
He said the government would continue to implement policies aimed at developing the country and empowering its people to build a prosperous and better society for all.
“The Swapo-led government has initiated the national mass housing development programme in order to address the housing backlog in the country and residents of Grootfontein will also benefit through the implementation of our policies to provide housing,” he stressed.
Specifically regarding Grootfontein, he said: “Eighty erven for low-cost houses have been serviced and 212 more erven are currently being serviced at an estimated cost of N$7 million,” he elaborated.
Pohamba said that similarly, a rural electrification programme has been intensified in all parts of the country including in Otjozondjupa Region.
“The bigger hybrid electricity system, comprising solar panels and diesel generators has been installed at Tsumkwe; today Tsumkwe community has access to reliable electricity. A similar project has been installed at the Gam settlement,” Pohamba said.
Government will continue to provide social safety nets, such as to provide social grants for the deserving members of society, he added.
“We will continue to expand and improve health care services around the country,” stressed Pohamba.
He said new clinics have also been built at Omatako, Mangetti and Otjozondjupa at a combined cost of N$27 million. A nurses’ home in Otjiwarongo has been upgraded at a cost of N$14 million.
“I am pleased to say that the upgrading of the outpatients department at the Okahandja Statement Hospital has been completed at a cost of N$12 million,” he stated.
Government has also taken practical steps to improve and modernise the education system, he added.
“Our government continues to place special emphasis om the provision of quality education. Many schools have been built and renovated here in Otjozondjupa Region, which includes Otjivanda Secondary School, with 26 classrooms, built in Grootfontein at a cost of N$60 million,” he said.
He added that government will also continue to promote the wellbeing of youth through programmes such as the provision of tertiary education, vocational training and the implementation of the National Youth Service.
“The biggest training facility of the National Youth Service is being built at Rietfotein here in Otjozondjupa,” said Pohamba.
He said through these programmes, the government aims to provide young people with skills competencies that will enable them to secure gainful employment or to establish their own business or income-generating projects.
“Already, many graduates from the National Youth Service are employed in both the public and private sector in our country and some have started their own successful businesses,” he said.
“The government has initiated several programmes to improve our agricultural sector and these include the green schemes, the national horticulture development initiative, the dry land crop production programme and the Kalimbeza rice project which are aimed at increasing local food production,” he said.
He said in addition, the national strategic food reserve programme has also been implemented in order to store cereals that can be used to feed the nation.
“The livestock production improvement programme and animal health programme were introduced to assist our livestock farmers,” he added.
He also welcomed 26 new members to the party.