Housing a key development priority – /Goagoses

The deputy minister of urban and rural development, Natalia
/Goagoses, says national housing is a key development priority in addressing poverty and inequality.

She represented the minister at the official handover of houses at the Federation Houses community at Okahandja on Friday.

“The government of Namibia acknowledges the challenges in housing as one of the key development priorities in our national development plans,” /Goagoses said.

She said housing development will bring about social harmony, economic advancement and political stability.

/Goagoses applauded private institutions such as Standard Bank for their support in the fight to eradicate shacks at Okahandja.

“I wish to single out the and continued support of Standard Bank, whose generous financial assistance to the federation has made funds available to construct some of these houses,” she said.

In total, 33 houses were constructed in the community.

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development constructed 22 of the houses and Standard Bank 11.

Okahandja mayor Kaunapawa Hangula said the event would have been impossible without the collective efforts of all stakeholders.

She said the project is testament to the power of collaboration and unwavering commitment to improve the lives of fellow citizens.

“Each of the 33 houses represents a dream fulfilled, a beacon of hope and a tangible step towards a better future for the residents of Okahandja,” Hangula said.

She said the building of the houses provides an opportunity for the beneficiaries to break free from the cycle of poverty and to create a solid foundation for future generations.

Bathuel Musambani of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia said their membership count stands at 29 796 nationwide, of which 20 797 are women.

“Since our inception, we have constructed more than 7 200 houses countrywide at a cost of N$187 million, of which Okahandja received N$1 950 000,” he said.

Musambani said the federation is looking to upgrade informal settlements in 20 local authority constituencies which involve 28 000 households with a population of 106 000.

“Therefore I am calling upon the Okahandja municipality . . . to support the informal settlement upgrading process through community participatory planning, and to allocate land to landless members,” he said.