Outjo sells plots to raise fund for land services

The Outjo municipality has taken an unconventional approach to sell land that has not yet been officially gazetted as a township in order to raise funds for land servicing.

An official notice shared via the municipality’s social media platform yesterday noted that 45 residential plots, ranging in size from 381 to 1 700 square metres, have been made available for purchase.

The prices range between N$53 000 and N$242 000.

The land being sold is located in an area that has not been formally proclaimed and currently lacks essential infrastructure services.

Potential buyers won’t be able to use the property as collateral for bank loans or mortgages from financial institutions because the council plan to use the proceeds to service the land.

“Hence, the council is requesting interested parties that development shall not commence immediately after settlement as the land needs to be serviced,” read the notice. The council has advised potential buyers to explore alternative means of acquiring land.

Potential buyers for the land will be required to make a 50% down payment and settle the remaining balance within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Acting chief executive Immanuel Tjipura said the decision to sell land in this manner was taken because there is a huge demand for land at the town. He said the municipality cannot wait on the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to proclaim the land.

“In the informal settlement alone there is a need for about 5 000 erven and in Outjo proper we need over 3 000 erven. The process of proclaiming a township takes long and there is bureaucracy that hampers the development of land, as well as the costs involved,” he said.

Tjipura said the land sale initiative is targeted at first-time buyers, with each applicant allowed to purchase only one plot.

Preference will be given to Outjo residents who do not currently own any residential property in the area and have their names on the council’s waiting list. There will be no plots reserved for specific applicants.

“We cannot sell more than one plot to a single individual when there’s a backlog of land. Doing so would open the door for developers to acquire multiple plots, potentially leaving the residents in need without options,” he said.

Buyers can only proceed with developing their plots once they have settled the full purchase price and the municipality has completed the necessary land servicing, said Tjipura.

Ministry of Urban and Rural Development spokesperson Etuna Shikalepo referred all questions to the Outjo municipality.

The Namibian queried whether the auction is being done in line with the law.

“The Outjo municipality will be in good position to provide you with detailed information regarding the selling of erven. Kindly consult them,” she said.

The Outjo municipality has taken an unconventional approach to sell land that has not yet been officially gazetted as a township in order to raise funds for land servicing.

An official notice shared via the municipality’s social media platform yesterday noted that 45 residential plots, ranging in size from 381 to 1 700 square metres, have been made available for purchase.

The prices range between N$53 000 and N$242 000.

The land being sold is located in an area that has not been formally proclaimed and currently lacks essential infrastructure services.

Potential buyers won’t be able to use the property as collateral for bank loans or mortgages from financial institutions because the council plan to use the proceeds to service the land.

“Hence, the council is requesting interested parties that development shall not commence immediately after settlement as the land needs to be serviced,” read the notice. The council has advised potential buyers to explore alternative means of acquiring land.

Potential buyers for the land will be required to make a 50% down payment and settle the remaining balance within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Acting chief executive Immanuel Tjipura said the decision to sell land in this manner was taken because there is a huge demand for land at the town. He said the municipality cannot wait on the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to proclaim the land.

“In the informal settlement alone there is a need for about 5 000 erven and in Outjo proper we need over 3 000 erven. The process of proclaiming a township takes long and there is bureaucracy that hampers the development of land, as well as the costs involved,” he said.

Tjipura said the land sale initiative is targeted at first-time buyers, with each applicant allowed to purchase only one plot.

Preference will be given to Outjo residents who do not currently own any residential property in the area and have their names on the council’s waiting list. There will be no plots reserved for specific applicants.

“We cannot sell more than one plot to a single individual when there’s a backlog of land. Doing so would open the door for developers to acquire multiple plots, potentially leaving the residents in need without options,” he said.

Buyers can only proceed with developing their plots once they have settled the full purchase price and the municipality has completed the necessary land servicing, said Tjipura.

Ministry of Urban and Rural Development spokesperson Etuna Shikalepo referred all questions to the Outjo municipality.

The Namibian queried whether the auction is being done in line with the law.

“The Outjo municipality will be in good position to provide you with detailed information regarding the selling of erven. Kindly consult them,” she said.

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