Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, said that the government recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing, and the provision of basic infrastructure and services remains one of their top priorities at all levels of government, whether Central, Regional, or Local.
Uutoni made these remarks during the handover of 70 houses at Okahao on Thursday, marking an investment of nearly N$60 million by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) in Omuthiya, Ondangwa, and Okahao.
Therefore, Uutoni indicated that decent shelter is a basic necessity of life, and they believe that it is justified for citizens, as the sovereign, to expect to have a place they call their own to meet their dwelling and survival needs.
In keeping with this reality and their commitment to the people of Namibia, Uutoni said housing remains one of their key development priorities, as clearly articulated in their national development frameworks, namely Vision 2023, national development plans, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan 2.
“Given the economic hardships, as we know, it is not disputable that the financial resources at our disposal cannot address the housing needs at once,” he said.
He added that it is also true that the continued growth of urban centres means an endless need for shelter, hence the huge backlog that they must battle with.
Uutoni added that it is for this reason that they are making use of multiple interventions in addressing housing needs, taking cognizance of the fact that different people are affected differently by the prevailing economic environment.
NHE chairperson board of director Toska Sem indicated that to date, NHE has constructed close to 210 houses in Okahao Town Council.
According to Sem, earlier this year, the NHE Board made an undertaking to prioritize the acquisition of affordable capital to ensure that affordable housing is achieved for all Namibian people.
“We have engaged all the local authorities and village councils in the Omusati Region. We are humbled by the cooperation and partnership by our stakeholders in the Omusati Region to support NHE by allocating affordable land to the Enterprise,” she said.
Further, Sem added that the houses were constructed at a cost of N$27 million.
Sem stressed that NHE is fully committed to ensuring that their after-sale experience is satisfactory and that they will enjoy being in their homes.
Meanwhile, David David of Kambwa construction said that in delivering these developments to the Okahao Town Council, they recognize the deep impact on the community’s growth and prosperity.
“We have laid the foundation for economic development and a sustainable environment; this framework does not only provide better housing but also promotes a sense of community and belonging,” he said.
During the construction work, David said they employed 174 individuals, including 7 main sub-contractors, contributing to local economic development.
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