Hilarius Hamutenya
A high rate of urban migration has resulted in Oshakati having more than 12 900 unresolved applications for the provision of land for people to build homes.
The town’s spokesperson, Katarina Kamari, made this revelation on Thursday.
“The town is experiencing a high rate of rural to urban migration. The council, therefore, made it a priority to allocate funds in every financial year towards servicing of land, although servicing of land may be costly and lengthy,” she said.
She said the council has made it a priority to at least ensure that every financial year it will work towards projects that install municipal services on land destined for residential settlement and to ensure the allocation of serviced land once available to the applicants residing in townships such as Oshakati North and Ekuku.
“The council has also embarked on formalising all informal settlements as part of the council’s current strategic plan for the next five years,” she said.
She explained that the council, in collaboration with an NGO Development Workshop Namibia DWN, provided an extension in Okandjengedi, Okandjengedi South proper, with the primary purpose of providing affordable serviced land to ultra-low-income earners, enabling them to develop their own properties.
“These plots are specifically marked for small business owners, kapana vendors, retail workers, and taxi drivers. Council has taken a decision to sell these plots at a fixed amount of N$10 000 per plot to enable the residents who fall within the category of ultra-low-income earners,” she said.
Kamari added that the council is in the final stage of finalising agreements with developers and contractors to commence the serving of erven in Ompumbu, a newly established township, which will avail about 1700 erven.
“Other townships that are also ready to be serviced are Oshakati North Extention 12 known as Ehenye, which will consist of 221 erven, and servicing of another extension for high-income earners called Okaku-Kiipupu proper, which will also consist of 204 erven,” she said.
This week the council advertised the sale of 92 erven for single residential, residential, and business occupation.
