Windhoek
While government has already allocated up to N$971 million in the current budget for servicing land and improvement of sanitation infrastructure, local authorities should still make deliberate efforts to target resources to service land.
Meanwhile, similar but scaled up amounts will be allocated toward the servicing of land during the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, underpinning the State’s commitment to delivering serviced land.
This perspective was shared by Minister of Finance, Calle Schlettwein on Wednesday when he consulted members of the Oshakati Town Council regarding land servicing at the town.
Schlettwein stressed that Namibians live in a constitutional democracy and a rule-based society. “It is within this legal framework that His Excellency, President Hage Geingob, has led the way to engage the landless and the youth organised under the Affirmative Repositioning Movement and reached an agreement.
“It should also be noted that there is nothing ulterior about the principle need and the demand for land as currently being pursued. It is particularly for land and the restoration of the dignity of our people that Namibians rallied together to liberate the country from exclusive and discriminatory practices of the past,” said Schlettwein.
The finance minister said it was resolved, in line with the war on poverty as declared by the president during his inauguration and during the State of the Nation Address, that there shall be a massive nationwide project aimed at servicing and allocating urban land.
“In this regard, government will immediately embark on a project to service 200,000 plots countrywide. On a pilot project basis, government will start by servicing identified land in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Oshakati,” Schlettwein explained.
He added that, to the extent public finances allow, government would prioritise budgetary allocations to the land-servicing programme.
Schlettwein further said a technical committee would be set up to work out all modalities regarding the Massive Urban Land Servicing Project.
“In order to implement the agreement [with AR] government has established an ad hoc committee at ministerial level under the chairpersonship of Sophia Shaningwa.
“Other members are Ministers Alpheus Naruseb, Franz Kapofi, Calle Schlettwein, Tom Alweendo and our Attorney General, Saccheus Shangala. This high-level committee is supported by a technical committee,” Schlettwein remarked.
He noted that amongst many pertinent issues underlying the agreement there are two important aspects, namely land availability and affordability.
“The bottom line of what we will be able to deliver in the shortest possible time, depends on the financial wherewithal to finance the identified units, supported by the voluntary assistance from civil society and the business community,” said Schlettwein.
He also seized on the consultations as an opportunity to point out that price dynamics in the real estate and housing sectors have not lent themselves to affordability, particularly for low and middle-income earners.
“The price-overshooting has outstripped wage improvements, rendering an average house-price rocketing out of the affordability range of low-income earners,” said a concerned Schlettwein.
He also expressed appreciation for numerous offers of support the government has received from various private sector entities.
“I want to renew our call on the business community and players in the financial sector to partner with government in this national endeavour. It is when we cooperate and exploit our different strengths that we will greatly enhance our ability to deliver meaningful outcomes to Namibian citizens,” he remarked.
The objectives of the minister’s visit and consultation in Oshakati were to discuss pertinent matters related to financing, and to confirm – in precise terms – the starting points and future plans.
“I am of the opinion that we have to consult on the development of a financing plan for this important programme. Both, public and private stakeholders in the financial sector should work together in this effort.
“The provision of serviced erven is the principal objective of the agreement, but that is only one step, albeit of pivotal importance, in our quest to satisfy the basic need for decent shelter for all. I seek to gain appreciation on the available land and the cost implications.
“These cost issues range from the acquisition of land, the professional service, bulk infrastructure and the actual cost of land servicing,” noted Schlettwein.