Martin Endjala
The Gibeon Village Council is reactivating the Build-Together programme, which will provide affordable houses to low- and middle-income families.
The village’s acting chief executive officer, Pederius Tjihoreko, confirmed this to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday.
“The programme is targeting families with a combined income of N$3 000 per month to allow an equal opportunity to acquire serviced land and affordable houses,” he said.
The established names on the 2012/2013 list, consisting of about 32 beneficiaries, have until 15 August to submit all necessary documents.
“The council requests that all 32 individuals listed resubmit their documents and verify the accuracy of their information. If they are already beneficiaries, deceased, or no longer interested, or unable to afford the programme, they should inform the council property officer,” Tjihoreko said.
He warned the listed names that failure to comply with this request would result in the application being cancelled.
When asked about the programme’s budget and commencement date, Tjihoreko said they still needed funds.
“Through the project identification report, we have submitted requests to the line ministry, where we requested some funds, and at this stage, I am not in the position to tell you how much, as this will be determined by what we are going to get in terms of availability, meaning we are baggers and baggers cannot choose,” he explained.
Tjihoreko stated that the reactivation programme is still in its infant stage. They are waiting for feedback on their submission of the request. Once they get it, they will update the public on the way forward.
To qualify for the program, one must be a Namibian citizen over 21 years of age, have a building plan, technical form (form BT-2), income certificate form (form BT-3), loan guarantee form (form BT-4), and an ID or marriage certificate (if married).
Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba launched the Build Together Programme in 2013 and integrated it into the government’s mass housing project.
It was a self-help programme initiated during the 1992–93 financial year to provide shelter to low- and ultra-low-income earners in the country.
The 1998–99 financial year saw the decentralization of the project to the regional councils and local authorities.
It provided home loans to people whose monthly incomes were less than N$3 000 and also assisted middle-income earners who did not have access to credit from financial institutions or who were regarded as a credit risk.
The maximum loan amount is N$40 000, and the interest rate varies from 4-7% over 20 years.
