Allexer Namundjembo
Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has called on the Namibian government to expand affordable housing, regulate the rental market, and review laws that he says continue to drive up the cost of home ownership, particularly for young people and low-income earners.
On his social media, Amoomo said the government should make vacant state-owned houses available for affordable rental, arguing that the country has failed to provide an adequate housing safety net for vulnerable citizens.
He said low-income earners, social grant beneficiaries, and persons living with disabilities are among those most affected by the shortage of public housing.
He added that the lack of public housing leaves people who cannot afford private rentals at the mercy of the private market, and argued that housing should be treated as a fundamental human right rather than a political issue.
He also cited the case of retired former National Assembly Speaker Professor Peter Katjavivi, saying he was denied the opportunity to purchase a government house in Swakopmund after his application was reportedly rejected by the Minister of Works and Transport.
According to Amoomo, his law firm has represented numerous civil servants facing eviction from government flats and houses this year, a situation he said highlights the urgent need for increased investment in affordable housing.
Amoomo further argued that Namibia’s rental market should be regulated to protect tenants, saying housing is too important to be left without a proper legal framework.
He questioned why rental agreements are not subject to stronger regulation when other essential services and industries are controlled.
“All petrol stations are regulated. Taxi operators are regulated. There is no reason why renting should not be regulated,” Amoomo said.
He also raised concerns about inconsistencies in building regulations, noting that some construction materials approved for residential housing in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund may not receive compliance approval in Windhoek.
He said such regulatory barriers contribute to unnecessarily high construction costs and should be reviewed to encourage more affordable housing solutions.
“Our young people are drowning, and we cannot sit back and watch,” Amoomo said.
Amoomo also expressed concern about declining property values, pointing to residential units in Otjomuise that were purchased for about N€800 000.
He said the situation has left many young homeowners facing significant financial losses and requires an urgent review of housing and property policies.
He attributed the high cost of housing construction to bureaucratic processes, rigid building standards, delays in land delivery, and limited flexibility in approving affordable building methods.
According to Amoomo, these costs are ultimately passed on to homebuyers, making home ownership increasingly unattainable for many Namibians.
Despite the challenges, Amoomo encouraged young Namibians to explore cooperative housing initiatives.
He praised the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, which has built more than 7 000 affordable houses for its members since its establishment in 1998, and recognised organisations such as Shiwana Penduka and Twahangana for their contributions to affordable housing.
He urged young professionals, including those paying between N$10 000 a month in rent, to consider joining community housing programmes instead of remaining long-term tenants.
“Housing is a human right because it is inseparable from the right to dignity,” Amoomo said. “We must work together to make home ownership affordable and accessible for all Namibians.”
The housing affordability crisis has also drawn the attention of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has declared Namibia’s housing and sanitation challenges a national emergency.
Her administration has set a target of delivering 50 000 low-cost housing units while supporting fast-build innovations aimed at addressing the country’s housing shortage.
The government’s housing strategy includes a commitment to build 10,000 low-cost social housing units annually over a five-year period to help upgrade informal settlements.
The President’s declaration allows housing and sanitation challenges to be treated as a national emergency under the Disaster Risk Management Act, with the aim of accelerating responses to the crisis.
The administration is also supporting alternative building technologies, including youth-driven fast-construction models such as a two-day, N$50 000 housing concept in Okahandja Park, which seeks to overcome delays associated with traditional government tender processes.
In addition, a Special Land Delivery Task Force has been established through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to speed up land surveying, improve land delivery, and address delays within township development processes.
Together, these measures reflect growing recognition that Namibia’s housing crisis requires urgent policy reform, increased investment, and innovative approaches to ensure that affordable and dignified housing becomes accessible to more citizens.
