Tsumeb
Tsumeb Municipality has availed 600 plots that currently being serviced to local residents, with the majority of the beneficiaries being from the low-income group.
The servicing of land is expected to be completed by August and construction of low-income housing will follow. The provision of houses will be done through a public-private partnership (PPP) and to some extent by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.
This was revealed on Friday by the CEO of Tsumeb, Alfeus Benjamin, who said council took a deliberate decision to sell the plots at a minimal price of N$10 per square metre, considering the financial situation of the majority of people that are in need of decent shelter.
“The decision was taken to make the land affordable, as the majority who are in need are those houses that are not financially well off, but in this way they can manage. The bulk of them are being relocated from Soweto informal settlement and other people to benefit are those in the police, as well as teachers and nurses,” Benjamin said.
He said they have a waiting list of all the potential beneficiaries of the planned land allocations, but further encouraged residents who have not applied yet, to do so, as there might be plots left vacant after the others have been allocated.
Benjamin went to say that the houses to be built would cost around $300 000 to N$450 000 on average.
“We’ve invested N$10 million to service the land, although it is not enough. We’re, however, waiting for an additional amount from the line ministry in order to finish the whole process at least by August. The plots are going to be allocated based on the first-come first-served system, as well as [on the basis of] the financial standing of the people,” Benjamin said.
Apart from the residential erven, the municipality also availed fully serviced plots for industrial development, where factories and warehouses are envisaged to be set up.