Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Budgetary constraints and prolonged procurement processes are some of the challenges facing the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in accelerating the delivery of services for urban land and housing.
On Tuesday, Cornelius Thaniseb from the Ministry highlighted these challenges during a presentation at the ongoing stakeholders’ workshop on the need to provide land for the urban poor and landless citizens at Swakopmund.
Other challenges, Thaniseb said are the non-compliance with procedural procurement processes by regional councils and local authorities, which he said results in significant delays in the appointment of service providers, including consultants and contractors.
“Failure by the service providers to complete projects on time, like for example, some Mass Housing Development (MHDP) Projects. Lack of adequate technical capacities at the local authorities and Ministry. Yearly budget allocation and communication,” expressed Thaniseb.
He added that for the past eight years, the government has serviced a total of 22 659 plots and built 15 198 houses.
Thaniseb proposed that some possible solutions to address the housing crisis include increasing the budget allocation, which can be done over three consecutive years instead of the current practice of yearly allocation, and making budget provisions to improve competency in the State Finance Act, Treasury Instructions, and Public Procurement Act through capacity building.
“At both the local authority and the ministry level, develop project management skills and capacity building to improve project monitoring and delivery,” he advised.
According to Erongo governor Neville Andre, approximately 230 000 families live in shacks in informal settlements countrywide, with no tenure security and few or no services available to them.
“Namibia is a country blessed with vast natural resources and resilient people. However, despite our progress, we continue to grapple with disparities in land ownership and access, especially in urban areas. The rapid urbanisation and population growth have exacerbated the shortage of affordable land, pushing many of our fellow citizens into informal settlements where living conditions are often deplorable,” he said.
He added that the government recognises that access to land is a fundamental right and a cornerstone for achieving social equity and economic empowerment. The government has launched several initiatives over the years to address the issues.
