WALVIS BAY – The need for affordable housing was once again highlighted when about a 150 residents of Walvis Bay peacefully marched to the Walvis Bay Municipality offices and handed over a petition in which they ambitiously demand at least 8 000 plots for the homeless and backyard squatters.
The demonstration follows just a day after reports indicated that Namibia had the second highest house price increase in the world after Dubai, that shows owning a house could remain a distant dream for many Namibians.
The residents who stay in shacks protested against the lack of affordable land, and rising housing and electricity costs at Walvis Bay that have confines them to fire prone shacks.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, the Trade Union Congress of Namibia president, Paulus Hango said although the petitioners are a small fraction, they represent the masses that echo the same sentiments of all those living in shacks.
“Walvis is still experiencing an influx of people. Those days you could rent a room for at least N$300 and still live comfortable. However, these day with the growing influx to the town, property prices skyrocket and makes it impossible for ordinary residents to rent a decent place,”
Hango explained.
Hango then said that housing and access to basic necessities such as water, electricity and sanitations should in fact be a basic requirement and should be availed to all residents.
One of the protestors, Selma Elago told New Era that she has been living in a shack for the past 8 year and experienced the ups and downs of living in a shack. “Have you ever slept with one eye open, just because you’re are scared to die in a fire? Our lives are at risk every day. My shack has burnt down three times already and I had to start from scratch every time, a desperate Elago told New Era.
Elago says although her earnings are not much, she is dreaming of owning her little house someday. I want to have a decent house even if it’s just one room and a kitchen. As long as we can sleep peacefully, she explained.
Others also said the lack of housing forces them to stay in shacks.
“One house in Kuisebmond accommodates more than 10 shacks that provides a roof for at least 20 peoples.
We know that this is a breeding ground for diseases and our children are also not safe at all. Therefore we are pleading with the authorities to really look at our situation,” another resident said.
Responding on behalf of the Mayor of Walvis Bay, the Public Relations and Communications Manager, Kevin Adams said the petition will be handed over to the relevant authority.
The Walvis Bay Municipality earlier this year indicated that they plan to lay the foundations for 30 000 plots to construct 40 000 new houses by the year 2030, the same year Namibia aims to have become prosperous and industrialised.
To achieve this, the town will need at least 2 000 hectares of land that will see the development of about 90 townships.
An independent study also shows that Walvis Bay’s population will double by the year 2030 as the town’s growth rate is currently estimated at 4.7 percent.
This is relatively higher than the national growth rate that is measured at 2 percent. The population of Walvis Bay could reach 181 722 by the year 2030.