Niël Terblanché
Namibia took a significant step forward when President Hage Geingob handed over 89 houses constructed under the Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP) to a group of fortunate recipients in Swakopmund.
“Today is yet another step forward in the government’s quest for National Housing Delivery. In this Year of Revival, we have managed to accomplish quite a lot, notwithstanding our economic realities. One thing is for sure: No matter what challenges we have faced, are facing, and may face in the future, I can confidently reaffirm our government’s unwavering commitment towards the provision of decent and affordable houses and serviced land to the citizens of Namibia,” President Geingob told people at the event in the Matutura neighbourhood of Swakopmund.
The Mass Housing Development Programme was conceived as a means of addressing the housing backlog, which has been exacerbated by Namibia’s urban migration trend and increasing housing demand.
To date, a total of 4,239 housing units have been built and handed over since the program’s inception in 2014, up to July 2023.
Various studies estimate the national housing backlog at over 100,000 units, growing annually by about 3,700 units.
The MHDP, launched in 2013 and temporarily suspended in 2015, was designed to increase investment in affordable housing and boost the supply of housing units to meet this growing demand.
In addition to the MHDP, other instruments used to address the housing backlog include the Build Together Housing Revolving Scheme administered by Local Authorities and Regional Councils, grant support to community-based organizations such as the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), public-private partnerships (PPPs) between financial institutions, developers and local authorities, as well as investments and developments by the private sector.
To address land tenure security and upgrade informal settlements, the government continues to provide budgetary allocations to Regional and Local Authority Councils for land servicing.
Additionally, the Flexible Land Tenure System, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, simplifies land ownership processes without the involvement of conveyancers.
As a response to the humanitarian crisis posed by poor living conditions in informal settlements, the Cabinet approved the revised National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan on November 7, 2023.
This policy outlines accelerated interventions to upgrade existing informal settlements (at least 60%), service an estimated 340,000 new plots, and construct an estimated 221,000 new houses from 2024 to 2029.
President Geingob stressed the importance of collaboration and unity among all stakeholders in achieving these goals.
“The realization of the noble objective and targets set out in the National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan can only take place if we continue to embrace the concept of Harambee. Only by holding hands, enhanced collaborative action, and unity of purpose involving all stakeholders, will we climb to the summit of national housing delivery,” he said.
The President congratulated the proud new homeowners and encouraged them to take care of their properties.
