Africa-Press – Namibia. THE minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Namibians in the ultralow- and low-income categories have adequate affordable housing.
He said this on Tuesday at Katima Mulilo where he handed over 80 houses built through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in collaboration with Standard Bank’s Buy-a-Brick project.
On Monday, Uutoni also handed over 54 houses that were built through the same joint collaboration at Kongola.
According to Uutoni, the government, through his ministry, will continue to support the work of community-based organisations such as SDFN, which has shown commitment and ability to contribute to the national drive of providing affordable housing and proper sanitation to the less fortunate.
“The shack dwellers federation’s solution to housing is unique and worth supporting in that it is a case of the community itself taking action to address its own developmental needs. This is a clear testimony of sustainable and people-centred development, and I hereby pledge our continued support,” he said.
He reiterated that the government’s involvement reaffirms its determination in ensuring that all Namibians have decent and affordable housing and shelter.
To demonstrate its trust in the work of SDFN, the government made available N$91,8 million that was used to build 3 064 houses countrywide and a further N$17 million for informal settlements at Gobabis, Karibib and Helao Nafidi, and services at Walvis Bay.
“I am reliably informed that at Katima Mulilo alone the federation has built 282 houses and still more are to come for the community of Katima Mulilo provided the local authority assists by providing more land,” he said.
Uutoni urged the private sector to come on board and support the work of the SDFN and that of the Katima Mulilo Town Council in making serviced land available to the federation.
Regional SDFN representative Grace Mwiya noted that since its inception in the region in 2000, the federation has registered over 1 050 members in six identified networks.
She said over 437 houses have been built in the region so far, with a N$10 million loan they secured. Women are the majority of the beneficiaries, she added.
“We are asking for more land because we want to build more permanent structures for our members who are yet to benefit,” she said.
Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu expressed disappointment over men’s lack of interest in joining federations such as SDFN to improve their livelihoods.
“I would like to encourage men to stand up and participate in such initiatives. If you go to the local market, you will find that it is women dominating. What are men busy with, perhaps they are busy planning gender-based violence? We should stop that,” he said.
Sampofu urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they pay back the loans, so that the project is sustained and continues to help others.
“Through your hard work, you have achieved what every Namibian dreams to have. Homelessness and basic sanitation are stark and undeniable features of our nation,” he said.
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