Africa-Press – Namibia. The government’s ambitious drive to address the national housing shortage has officially commenced in Walvis Bay, where the construction of 200 houses at Farm 37 is underway.
The government has allocated N$75 million for the first phase, while the Walvis Bay council has budgeted another another N$6 million for the initiative.
The funding also covers bulk infrastructure provision such as water, sewerage and roads.
Speaking at the recent groundbreaking ceremony at Farm 37, which was acquired to address the housing shortage in Walvis Bay, Erongo governor Nathalia
/Goagoses said the money has already been transferred to the Walvis Bay Municipality to ensure the completion of Phase 1.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our collective journey towards sustainable development, improved living standards, and economic growth. Every cent used here is the people’s money. No inflated prices. No tricks. This project is to build houses for our people,” said /Goagoses.
Overall, the government has allocated N$700 million to the national programme for the 2025/2026 financial year.
According to the governor, 29 local contractors have already been appointed to deliver the 200 housing units by September this year.
Each contractor is required to employ local people, especially from within the Farm 37 community.
“This is a team effort. The target is September 2025. I will be back here with the minister and the President, and we will hand over 200 housing units to the residents. That is our commitment,” she said.
Farm 37 development is part of a broader government strategy to formalise informal settlements and uplift communities, she said.
The project is part of the national Mass Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme and is aimed at decongesting crowded urban areas while providing decent, affordable housing for low-income residents. The mass formalisation of informal settlements will also include Windhoek, Rundu, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati.
Farm 37, located just outside Walvis Bay, was officially launched in 2019 as a strategic response to the town’s growing housing crisis.
Also speaking at the same event, Walvis Bay deputy mayor Saara Mutondoka said the town’s housing backlog has continued to grow due to rural-urban migration and high demand for low-income housing.
She added that incidents such as the devastating Twaloloka fire in 2020, which left more than 100 families homeless, also contributed to the housing challenge.
“This project is a crucial step in addressing overcrowding. But this is just the beginning as the council has a mandate to deliver 1 250 houses under the national programme,” she said.
According to Mutondoka, the council is working in collaboration with the National Housing Enterprise, Shack Dwellers Federation, Seafarers Federation, Backyard Tenants, and Nalitungwe Savings Group to ensure residents have a pathway to homeownership.
“We are not only building houses, but we are also building futures. With the support of our central government, the council is committed to transforming lives through sustainable development,” she said.
The government, as outlined in the Swapo Party Manifesto Implementation Plan, plans to construct 50 000 affordable housing units and formalise at least 50% of the country’s informal settlements by 2029. To support this, the government has also budgeted N$2.5 billion for the establishment of a special land delivery task force.
Championed by the late former Erongo governor, Cleophas Mutjavikua, the development of Farm 37 was seen as a way to decongest informal settlements and offer low-income earners in the town, a path to dignified homeownership.
The area has the potential for more than 30 000 residential plots.
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