Ondangwa
The Ondangwa Town Council plans to service about 900 residential erven for low-middle income residents during the financial year 2016/2017.
According to the CEO of Ondangwa, Ismael Namgongo, the project has already been co-planned and surveyed with finances from the council’s coffers as well as the subsidy from central government.
At present the council has a housing backlog of 2 100 applicants, but the number is said to increase daily.
“The council faces an enormous demand for land for business development, industrial development and residential purposes. We have a long list of applicants that want serviced land for business and residential purposes,” said Namgongo at a media briefing on Tuesday.
A low-middle income plot costs about N$22 000 while there is provision for Build Together members to acquire similar plots for about N$1 600.
During the current financial year council set aside N$52 million to service residential and industrial erven.
To date, 205 residential erven at Extension 16 and 124 industrial erven at Extension 8 and Extension 21 have been serviced.
Council has also engaged in public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address the housing need. Council has enlisted private partnerships with four developers to construct about 1 059 houses at extensions 11, 13, 17-20.
To date 400 houses have already been completed.
Namgongo said although the council is providing houses to the landless, land delivery remains a challenge and the demand for land continues to outweigh supply.
Another challenge the council is faced with is squatting especially in the informal settlements.
However, the CEO said the council is randomly monitoring the situation to take action.