Eveline de Klerk
WALVIS BAY - At least 500 homes will be constructed on a portion of land at Farm 37 for the Namibian Defence Force members based at Walvis Bay, urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni announced yesterday.
Uutoni’s announcement came shortly after the Walvis Bay council on Tuesday recommended to sell 129 513 square metres of unserviced land at N$50 per square metre to Power Shield Trading, a subsidiary of the Defence Force Foundation.
The close corporation had applied for the land to construct housing units for NDF members.The company will have to fork out about N$6.4 million.
The portion of land - identified as the remainder of Farm 37 - is not formalised in terms of the Town Planning Ordinance hence the company has to go through all planning processes to establish the township legally.
“We have been making sure that housing is also accessible for our uniformed forces. As you can see, we have also done so in Windhoek and other towns and now here in Walvis Bay too,” Uutoni said.
He added government is committed to providing affordable housing and is tackling all challenges by making land and housing accessible to all Namibians.
“I am here with a delegation. We want to see how the money allocated for housing and land servicing is being used. As such, our uniformed forces are also benefiting,” he said.
According to Uutoni, Farm 37 is a good choice to construct homes for the NDF members, as it is strategically located close to the Rooikop army base.
He said this proposal must be seen as a unique development proposition that will significantly contribute to the growth and development of Walvis Bay.
Farm 37, which has a capacity of 30 000 erven, was approved earlier this year by Cabinet for the decongestion of close to 800 households in Walvis Bay alone.
As part of the process, at least 400 residents of the former Twaloloka, including 235 families whose shacks were gutted by fire in July this year, will also be permanently relocated.
edeklerk@nepc.com.na
Housing provision… Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni.
Photo: Eveline de Klerk