Build Together revived at Omaheke

The Omaheke Regional Council has intensified efforts to provide adequate housing to its residents, with the revival of the Build Together Programme (BTP) in three settlements across the region.

According to Omaheke Regional Council spokesperson Tauno Ileka, a total of 70 houses are envisaged to be completed before June, with 40 houses to be constructed at Aminuis, 15 at Epukiro and 15 at Tallismanus in the Otjombinde constituency.

“So far, at Aminuis, 15 houses have been built up to window level, while 14 are up to roof level. At Epukiro, six houses are built up to window level, while at Tallismanus three houses are at window level and two up to roof level,” he said.

The design of the houses, Ileka said, includes one bedroom, bathroom and an open-plan kitchen area which includes a living room. Provision has also been and for future extension of a second bedroom by the owner.

“In order to keep the cost of each house to a minimum, without compromising on the quality, we have decided to procure all building materials including cement and appoint local brick makers and enterprises to build the houses,” he said.

The BTP was initiated in 1992 to provide shelter to low and ultra-low income earners in the country. The administration of the programme was decentralised to regional councils and local authorities in 1998.

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 credit risks.

The BTP operated until 2013, and was then absorbed into the Mass Housing Development Programme.

However, the mass housing project was stopped in 2015, amid a barrage of irregularities in the tender awarding process, a situation that saw president Hage Geingob institute an audit on the mega project.

The BTP was re-launched in 2016 and has had been providing housing solutions for the very low income earners. However, it would have to be scaled-up considerably to become more effective in addressing the housing backlog and growth in informal settlements.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Kokuuakupi Kazapua, told Roots Online that it has been a vital link in providing housing to needy residents – many of whom would otherwise not be able to secure a house of their own.

“I applied in 2006 and in 2014 my application was approved. Construction on my house started in 2015 and was completed the same year. It was a joyous occasion moving into my own house,” she said.

Kazapua said there were some shortcomings during the process, but in the end she was proud to be a homeowner.

– Roots Online

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