Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni said he will bring the Rent Control Bill to Parliament once the draft bill has gone through the relevant structures and scrutiny.

“We have a draft bill, but it is still undergoing a refinement process. The ministry has engaged a team of experts to assist in this process. We are also getting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General to ensure a fine balance between the constitutional provisions on the right to property and the other interest,” Uutoni said last Thursday in the National Assembly.

He was responding to questions regarding the status of the long-awaited Rent Control Bill by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune.

Katjimune had asked why Uutoni was dragging his feet into bringing the bill to Parliament. He noted that the legislation is essential to regulating rent prices in Namibia. The ministry has been working on this for the past six years.

However, Uutoni gave the assurance that they were steaming ahead.

“I wish to report that progress is evident from us, as a ministry responsible. I thus request for a little patience from the House and the nation at large to allow us time to have it right,” the minister said.

Katjimune’s view is that the soaring housing costs have left hundreds of thousands of ordinary Namibians without a choice but to become tenants. He said in this situation, tenants are exposed to exploitative rental fees.

“This crisis ought to have been resolved by the proposed Rent Control Bill, which is earmarked to operationalise the Rent Control Board to control renting prices in our city, towns and villages,” he stressed.

“It does appear, however, for reasons known only to himself, that the minister has been dragging his feet in bringing this crucial piece of legislation, which would bring relief to tenants across our country to Parliament for debate.” -Nampa