The Erongo Regional Council has sought support from local authorities to facilitate the allocation of residential land for its employees. This is in a bid to provide staff with affordable housing and ultimately improve staff retention.
In a recent submission to the council’s management committee, chief regional officer Sem Ntelamo highlighted the challenges faced by council staff in acquiring affordable land for housing.
He said the high cost of plots, often sold to the highest bidder through auctions, has made it difficult for civil servants to secure land.
“This shortage of affordable housing has significantly contributed to staff turnover within the council, affecting productivity and service delivery in the region,” he said.
The submission emphasised that providing staff with access to affordable housing would improve employee retention by addressing one of the key factors contributing to turnover.
“Supporting staff in acquiring land at the lowest possible price will have a positive impact on their overall well-being, thereby enhancing productivity and ensuring effective service delivery to the region,” the document noted.
To address this challenge, the submission proposes the allocation of five plots per municipality annually for at least five regional council staff members, with the plots to be purchased directly for residential purposes.
The council management committee has recommended that the ordinary regional council provide its support to engage local authorities in making land available. The recommendation is now awaiting discussion and the ordinary regional council’s approval.
This land allocation initiative, if approved, is expected to foster a more stable and motivated workforce within the council, ultimately benefiting the entire region.
Constituency councillors Florian Donatus and Kennedy !Haoseb welcomed the request, noting that the move could lead to improved public service delivery.
