Suzith Tjituara 

KEETMANSHOOP – The Keetmanshoop Municipality on Friday handed over 10 houses under the Build Together project to beneficiaries in the Tseiblaagte 7 residential area.

Speaking at the ceremony, Keetmanshoop deputy mayor Anneline Knaus said since the decentralisation of this project in 1998, the municipality has constructed 334 houses, helping families to find a place they can call home.

The municipality remains dedicated to ensuring that more residents can experience the pride and security of home ownership, she noted.

“To the new homeowners, may these homes provide you not only with shelter, but with comfort, warmth and pride for many years to come. We trust that they will be filled with joyful memories, and serve as a foundation upon which your families will continue to grow and prosper,” she said.

The 10 houses handed over form part of 30 houses the municipality plans to build under the Build Together project during the 2023/2024 financial year, which is expected to cost N$2 million.

Furthermore, the municipality plans to build 50 more houses for the 2024/2025 financial year.

Also speaking was councillor Johannes Vries, who said the municipality understands the importance of shelter as a fundamental human right. A home is not only a physical structure, but a place of security, dignity and belonging, he emphasised.

“To the recipients of these homes, I encourage you to cherish and care for these homes for they are not just your own, but an integral part of our collective growth as a town,” he urged.

The houses consist of two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and living room constructed at a cost of N$80 000.

Jospeh Kaffer, one of the beneficiaries said: “It took me 12 years to be a beneficiary of this project. It took time, and we needed to be patient and put trust in those in offices. I am very thankful that I am a beneficiary, and now all I need to do is to turn this house into a home.”
-Nampa