Stefanus Nashama
Residents of the Tsandi Constituency in the Omusati region received 33 houses constructed by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) through a public-private partnership.
The houses were handed over by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, in the presence of NHE board members and the Omusati Regional Governor, Erginus Endjala.
According to the NHE, this was the first time the company delivered houses to the Tsandi Village Council.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Uutoni said he is aware of the cost of houses falling out of reach of many people and that those in the category of middle to low-income are struggling to access affordable housing.
“I appreciate and applaud the fact that NHE and the local authorities are putting in the time and effort to drive the housing agenda of the government,” he said.
The Minister said that in October last year, the Ministry handed over 81 houses of the same NHE housing program in Outapi. He said last month, while visiting Okahao, he learned that the 70 houses will soon be completed.
Uutoni said it is only when the land is reasonably priced by local authorities, that lower-income groups will be able to afford houses constructed by the NHE.
“The existence of these houses provides the municipality to generate revenue from rates and taxes every month for a lifetime. This is why I continuously keep calling on role players to bring their part on board,” he added.
The Minister stated that with good collaboration, people will benefit, and the government will make a lasting impact in the provision of housing to the Namibian people.
He said the Ministry is supporting every initiative that delivers houses that people can afford, especially those within the low to ultra-law income bracket.
The Ministry is aware of the increasing cost of constructing houses, due to the cost of materials, transportation costs, and all other related costs, he added.
“These factors are beyond our control and have made it quite challenging to maintain the selling prices of houses at the lowest, we wish to keep them,” he emphasized.
Uutoni pleads with local authorities to offer land to the NHE at the lowest prices possible, so that there is a bit of a reduction in the input cost, and subsequently better selling price.
“This is why in this whole process, as stakeholders being the NHE, the Local Authority, and the Contractors that we bring on board, to all work with a common purpose of delivering quality but affordable homes to our people,” the Minister encouraged.
Meanwhile, the NHE Board Chairperson, Toska Sem, said the company faces the challenge of a lack of serviced land when a project is completed.
She urged the local authorities to allow NHE to come into their town, and avail land at a reasonable price and the local authorities or village councils will reap the benefit of this development through the payment of rates and taxes for generations to come.
The Board Chairperson alluded that NHE currently has projects in Okahao (70) Outapi (26), Ondangwa (24), Omuthiya (50), Gobabis (65), and in Windhoek they have the Informal Settlement Upgrading Program underway.
Sem indicated that the total value of this housing project is costed at 10 million.
