WALVIS BAY – The Walvis Bay Council has urged coastal employers to come onboard and help council to address the lack of housing at the town. The call was made last week during a response by council following the strike of close to 150 shack dwellers earlier this month at the town. The protestors demanded at least 800 plots to build decent houses for themselves.
The residents who live in shacks protested against the lack of affordable land, and rising housing and electricity costs at Walvis Bay that have confined them to fire-prone shacks.
However the council said they have repeatedly invited large employers to apply for land to facilitate the construction of houses for employees.
“Some employers have heeded the call, but more needs to be done in this respect,” council said in a statement issued last week Monday.
Council also indicated it is in constant consultations with government and its principal agent, NHE, as far as housing is concerned to address the provision of low-cost housing.
“In this respect, a statement regarding beneficiaries of the mass housing programme is expected to be released soon,” council said.
Council also revealed that an invitation was extended to the protesters to address the issue prior to the protest, but the group chose to conduct the protest march first.
However council said it is equally concerned about the plight of shack dwellers and is in the process of addressing the issue through its various plans of action.
“These plans include the municipality’s strategic plan adopted in 2013 and the recently approved Integrated Urban Spatial Development Framework (IUSDF). Both of these have been communicated at various public platforms and feedback will be provided from time to time.
“While the municipality has availed about 1 600 erven for the construction of mass housing units, it is currently in the process of finalising the servicing of close to 1000 erven as part of its ongoing land development programme. Thus, hundreds of erven will be available in Narraville,
Kuisebmond and Meersig within the next two to six months. Furthermore, approval has just been granted by the Townships Board for the development of approximately 300 erven, which will be available by early 2016.
“In view of council’s efforts to alleviate the plight of the poor, it is more than evident that progress has been made, albeit with limited resources.
However, challenges will always remain. Council is prepared to partner with serious social partners to overcome these obstacles.
“Thus the door is wide open for such engagement at all times. Such partners include the Trade Union Congress of Namibia to become part of the solution, and not only to focus on highlighting the problems that we face collectively,” the statement reads.