Eenhana
Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa has denounced developers who acquire land from local authorities to re-sell to the poor at exorbitant prices.
According to Shaningwa her office is furnished with a list of mini-municipality business personalities who acquire land for thousands of dollar only to resell it for millions.
According to the rural development minister the tendency of treating land as if it were fat cakes that can be sold and resold should end.
Shaningwa warned that land is a crucial asset, cautioning that such avaricious tendencies should come to an end.
“I’ve noted with concern some people who acquired dozens of residential erven and park them idly without developing them, while we have a [housing] backlog.
“These are merely speculators, who are gambling with land and this must stop with immediate effect as it is contributes to the housing shortage, Shaningwa said.
She made the remarks at the handover of 200 houses at Eenhana on Monday. At the event the minister reiterated her call on local authorities to prioritise first-time buyers.
Shaningwa said by the end of her tenure she wants the national housing backlog of 100 000 reduced immensely. She is not against business people making a profit, she said, but advised them to refrain from profiting selfishly at the expense of the poor majority.
She appealed to private developers to come on board to aid government to provide houses, saying government cannot win the battle in isolation.
The managing director of Greywall Properties, the developers of the houses handed over this week, said the 227 homes earmarked for Atusheni village represent the fulfilment of a national duty to provide affordable houses.
So far 200 houses of the 229 houses have been completed and occupied.
Eenhana Mayor Julia Shikongo applauded the company, saying property developers should ensure that the houses they construct are of good quality so that buyers get value for money.