Africa-Press – Namibia. Works minister Veikko Nekundi has issued a stern warning to civil servants who are benefitting twice from government housing schemes, saying it violates government’s housing policy.
The policy prohibits any individual from receiving a housing subsidy while at the same time occupying a government-owned house.
“We work closely with respective ministries to verify applicant information before allocations are made. Applicants must also submit payslips to confirm that there are no existing housing subsidies,” Nekundi said in a recent interview with New Era.
He was responding to findings in the department of works’ audit report for the 2023/24 financial year, which revealed that some serving civil servants are double-dipping and had their bread buttered on both sides, receiving housing subsidies while occupying State-owned houses.
The audit revealed that some retired civil servants continue occupying government houses beyond the one-month grace period after retirement. Six such cases were recorded in the Kunene region.
Nekundi said these former civil servants are occupying “pool houses” earmarked for alienation under the housing policy.
“We initially offered them the opportunity to purchase the units, but there was no response,” he said.
Cabinet has since approved a directive allowing biological or legally adopted children and spouses to purchase the houses on behalf of the sitting tenants.
“We’ve conducted awareness campaigns to inform them, and we are now finalising new offers in accordance with the directive. If there is still no interest, the houses will be offered to other civil servants – and then, if necessary, to the public,” he said.
Final call
Last week, Nekundi issued a “final call amnesty” to all illegal occupants of government houses and flats, instructing them to vacate the properties and hand over keys to the housing division no later than 1 April 2026.
In an internal memo, the ministry expressed “serious concern” over the continued illegal and unauthorised occupation of government properties by non-civil servants, unauthorised civil servants, individuals subletting units and retired public servants.
The illegal occupants are now told to leave the government houses.
“Failure to adhere to the above directive will result in forced eviction,” the minister warned.
In addition, the ministry has significantly increased monthly penalties for illegal occupancy, effective 1 January 2026.
The rental for a one-bedroom unit has increased from N$1 500 to N$4 500 per month, plus 20% interest.
For two- and three-bedroom units, the rental has risen from between
N$2 500 and N$3 500 to N$10 500 per month, plus 20% interest.
Policy tightening
Nekundi said the ministry has intensified annual inspections to verify tenants’ eligibility and financial status.
“If someone is found to be double-dipping, eviction proceedings commence immediately. Furthermore, we impose an economic rent of up to N$3 500, which is deducted through the HR departments of the respective ministries,” he said.
He added that the ministry is reviewing the Government Housing Policy to close remaining loopholes.
“We recognise that more needs to be done. We are in the process of revising the policy to strengthen enforcement and accountability,” he said.
According to a nationwide inventory of immovable State assets conducted by the ministry, the government owns more than 8 000 properties across Namibia.
These include schools, clinics, hospitals, hostels, government houses, flats, offices and vacant plots.
Nekundi emphasised that protecting and properly managing these assets is essential to ensure fairness, transparency and equal access to housing for deserving public servants.
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