Auleria Wakudumo
ONDANGWA – Urban and Rural Development executive director Nghidinua Daniel last week handed over 64 houses that were constructed by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) at Ondangwa’s Extension 25. During the event, he said the exorbitant cost of housing has made owning one a pipedream for many in the middle- and low-income brackets.
“Housing is and will continue to be one of the key national development priorities, as it is an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality as well as bringing about social harmony, economic advancement and ensuring political stability,” Daniel said.
He encouraged local authority councils to embrace and work with NHE and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia by providing affordable land to meet the needs of low-income earners.
“This will help us to address the informal settlements where our fellow countrywomen and men reside without security of tenure, basic services and proper shelter,” Daniel noted.
NHE chairperson Toska Sem said the successful completion of the project comes at an opportune time when local authorities are expected to redouble their efforts in service delivery.
This includes the provision of housing due to the ever-increasing rural to-urban migration.
“Population growth and immigration from rural to urban areas highlights a potential increase for individual who yearn to acquire affordable housing in towns. The NHE has adopted a drastic approach to increase the annual housing output in urban centres to ensure the national housing backlog is reduced significantly for the benefit of all Namibians,” Sem said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Lucia Heita expressed appreciation for the NHE and Ondangwa Town Council for turning the dream of 64 Namibians into a reality. She applied for a house between October/December last year. By January, her house was constructed.
Local businessman and manager of Kambwa Trading David Sheehama said they were able to complete the houses ahead of time.
The houses were supposed to be completed in seven months but his team delivered within five months. “We do what we say,” he remarked.