Niël Terblanché
Swakopmund achieved another milestone in addressing housing challenges with the launch of a transformative housing development project in the DRC informal settlement.
The minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni officially launched the National Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP) aimed at addressing the housing backlog and providing decent and affordable shelter countrywide in Swakopmund on Friday.
The ISUP was first launched in Windhoek as a Pilot Project and has so far delivered 744 houses, and is set to be rolled out countrywide.
The minister said a total of 803 new houses will be constructed in DRC informal settlement, with 200 projected to be delivered in the first phase earlier next year, through the Memorandum of Understanding between the Swakopmund Municipality and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
During the launch, Uutoni stated that the scarcity of decent and affordable housing can be addressed through collaboration.
“Today’s launch is a testament that the scarcity of affordable and decent housing can be addressed if we all work together for a common cause,” he said.
He urged all local authorities in the country to work together with the NHE and implement the same project in their towns.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Mayor Blasius Goraseb said the project creates a brighter future for the settlement’s residents, with the promise of sustainable housing and community empowerment.
According to Goraseb, the project, which is a collaboration between the Swakopmund Municipality and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), will benefit approximately 895 residents.
He said that the initiative is part of the broader National Informal Settlement Upgrading Project, aimed at addressing Namibia’s growing urban housing crisis.
Goraseb also expressed pride in the progress of the project.
“This event reflects a shared commitment to transforming lives and creating a brighter future for the residents of the DRC,” he said.
He added that over the past year, land was donated to beneficiaries by the Swakopmund Council, with servicing made possible through central government funding.
Affordable loans, facilitated by the NHE, will enable residents to build homes equipped with essential services like water and sanitation.
“This crucial intervention addresses immediate housing needs while also laying the groundwork for economic empowerment and sustainable growth,” he said.
The history of the DRC’s transformation dates back three years when the Swakopmund Municipality launched a decongestion programme.
Goraseb added that this effort relocated residents and conducted a comprehensive census to ensure fair land allocation.
“Of the 870 occupants identified, 805 received Temporary Occupation Certificates, recognizing them as legitimate landholders. The process later expanded to other areas, with serviced plots made available to low-income residents at reduced prices,” he said.
According to the mayor, the project will also extend to the Northern Wedge Area, where additional homes are planned to meet the community’s needs.
Goraseb called on residents to embrace environmental stewardship, envisioning a greener, more vibrant DRC as a symbol of collective progress.
“Today marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in their lives,” he said while congratulating the beneficiaries and reiterating the municipality’s commitment to inclusive urban development.
He added that Swakopmund is set to become a model of progress, showcasing how innovative partnerships can drive transformation and uplift communities.
