Christmas in their own home

Among the recipients of 89 houses at Swakopmund yesterday was single mother Sara Tsaes and her son Tiago, who are set to celebrate their first Christmas in their own home.

“This house is more than just a shelter; it’s a foundation for our future, a place where my son and I can feel secure and build our lives,” said a very grateful Tsaes.

The self-employed single mother also expressed her gratitude to the government for making this dream possible.

President Hage Geingob officially handed over the houses constructed under Namibia’s Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP) to low-income beneficiaries at the coastal town yesterday.

Geingob highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis in Namibia.

“Today is yet another step forward in the government’s quest for national housing delivery. The MHDP is a testament to our unwavering commitment towards providing decent and affordable houses,” he said.

To date, more than 4 000 housing units have been built and handed over under the programme, which was initiated in 2014.

“Only through the holding of hands, enhanced collaborative action and unity of purpose involving all stakeholders, will we climb to the summit of national housing delivery,” Geingob said.

The revised National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan, approved by the Cabinet on 7 November, was also mentioned. This policy aims to upscale the upgrading of informal settlements and the construction of new houses and serviced plots.

Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni expressed the government’s commitment to housing for all: “We really want to have houses for each and every citizen, and this is what we are trying to do.”

He praised Geingob for instructing the urban and rural development ministry to ensure that it uses “the little that we have” to build houses.
Uutoni emphasised the importance of ensuring that families across the country have decent shelter for generations to come.

He revealed that more than 4 000 housing units have been completed under MHDP, including the 109 units handed over in July at Swakopmund.

“Every, three or four months, we’ll be handing over houses,” he said.

The completed houses have been handed over to needy families in various local authorities and regions.

Uutoni highlighted a strategy of encouraging citizens to build their own houses.

“We are going to service more land, and when we ask you to build your own house, let’s build houses for ourselves on our own,” he urged.

The mass delivery housing programme is envisaged to deliver about 185 000 houses over the next 18 years. As such, new jobs are expected to be created from this initiative. On average, 10 278 houses are expected to be constructed on an annual basis as per a strategic plan from 2013.

The programme was halted in 2015 after the government decided to reassess the project, citing allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Several civil court cases also ensued.

Since then, interventions from the government have resulted in some of the houses being completed and handed over.