Sostenus Wilherm
More than 2,500 Namibians have registered their interest in affordable housing through Yambuka Housing, highlighting the growing demand for accessible homeownership solutions as many families continue to struggle with high rental costs and inadequate living conditions.
The overwhelming response came during Yambuka Housing’s official community launch held on Saturday at the Xwama Cultural Centre in Windhoek, where residents from various informal settlements gathered to view the company’s housing models, engage with officials and register their interest in owning homes.
The event attracted hundreds of community members, with long lines forming at registration points as residents sought information about the housing initiative.
Due to the high turnout, the Yambuka team remained at the venue until 16h00 to accommodate the steady flow of visitors.
The launch was attended by Member of Parliament George Kambala, activist Michael Amushelelo, community leaders and members of the public, who joined discussions on Namibia’s housing crisis and the urgent need for affordable housing alternatives.
Yambuka Housing director Twapewa Kadhikwa said the response from residents reflected the seriousness of Namibia’s housing shortage and showed that many families were ready for opportunities that could move them from informal settlements into dignified homes.
“We stayed until four in the afternoon because the interest from the community never slowed down. People continued arriving because they wanted to see the house, understand how the process works and find out whether this could finally be an opportunity for them and their families.
By the end of the day, more than 2,500 Namibians had registered their interest in a Yambuka House,” Kadhikwa said.
She added that the registrations represented real families seeking security, dignity and a chance to move away from difficult living conditions.
“This is not just a number on a registration sheet but these are thousands of families who are saying they want a better future and that they are ready to move from Okabashu into a Yambuka House.
Today showed us the depth of the need that exists in our communities, but it also showed us the hope people have when they see a housing solution that is affordable and within reach.”
The strong turnout comes amid growing concerns over Namibia’s housing shortage, with many young people and low-income households facing difficulties securing affordable accommodation.
Addressing the gathering, Kambala described housing as a fundamental issue of justice and dignity, saying the country could no longer accept the rental crisis as a normal part of life.
“Housing is not a sector; housing is a form of justice. The rental crisis we are living through is a form of injustice that we can no longer normalise.
Too many young Namibians are working hard, contributing to society and dreaming of a future, yet they remain trapped in a cycle where they pay rent every month without moving closer to owning something of their own,” Kambala said.
He said initiatives such as Yambuka Housing were important because they provided families who had often been overlooked with an opportunity to achieve homeownership.
“This house is also for you. You are not an afterthought in this project; you are the reason it exists. A home is not only about bricks and walls, it is about dignity, stability and giving a family something they can proudly call their own.
A prefabricated home may sound modest to some people, but for a family that has never had a secure place to call home, it represents a new beginning,” he added.
Kambala further committed his support in Parliament towards initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of rental dependency and creating more opportunities for Namibians to own homes.
Meanwhile, activist Michael Amushelelo said addressing Namibia’s housing crisis requires serious attention to land access, warning that housing delivery cannot succeed without available land.
“Land remains at the centre of this conversation. We can talk about houses, we can talk about construction and we can talk about affordable solutions, but without land, homes simply cannot be built. If we are serious about solving the housing crisis, then we must confront the issue of land because it is the foundation on which every housing project depends,” Amushelelo said.
Yambuka Housing said it will now begin processing applications from the more than 2,500 residents who registered during the launch.
The company is offering two housing models the Iyaloo House, an 18-square-metre one-bedroom unit with a bathroom, and the Shavena House, a 40-square-metre home consisting of two bedrooms, a bathroom and a combined kitchen and living area.
The units are available from N$99 500, with Yambuka Housing indicating that its Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) financing model, currently under development, is expected to assist more residents in accessing the homes.
The company said the response at Xwama Cultural Centre demonstrated the urgent need for affordable housing solutions that can provide Namibians with security, dignity and a realistic pathway towards homeownership.
