Elizabeth Hiyolwa
NKURENKURU – Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni this week handed over 50 residential plots to residents of Nkurenkuru’s Kakuro, much to the delight of the beneficiaries. The minister also handed over eight houses which were completely developed by a private contractor at the Kavango West town. During the handover, Uutoni applauded the council leadership for their smart partnership with the private contractor and encouraged them to intensify similar projects that seek to address the housing issue.
“I would like to encourage the Nkurenkuru Town Council leadership to intensify these kinds of projects, because, through this, we will as a nation be able to achieve prosperity for all our people,” he stated. He further urged the local authority to remain focused and work as a team to bring about the development that is needed in the community.
“I thus admire the Nkurenkuru Town Council for focusing your attention and energies on addressing the causes of inequality at the time when our nation is faced with acute housing shortage and other socio-economic disparities,” Uutoni stated. The minister also urged the local authority to ensure that the unserviced plots given to the beneficiaries are provided with water.
“People need land to settle, but also let’s supply water so that people will not have problems. That should be priority number one, let us see whether we can put up a pipe just for people to drink water,” he said.
Nkurenkuru mayor Jafet Muti highlighted the delivery of plots fulfils the prerequisite for sustainable economic development and shared prosperity. He further stressed the Shack Dwellers Federation, as a stakeholder, has proven to be a reliable and consistent partner in improving housing development in Nkurenkuru by providing quality and affordable houses for the low-income earners. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Seija Mandume extended her appreciation to the town council leaders who acknowledged that low-income earners also deserve plots and encouraged them to continue with this gesture for other low-income earners to benefit too.