Prefab Housing is Nota Sustainable Solution

an announcement by prime minister Elijah Ngurare on his official Facebook page, praising the piloting of precast and prefab housing technologies, has stirred what needs to be a national conversation about the kind of country we are building – both literally and politically.

The prime minister said: “We are ready to implement the recommendations therein including, in the interim, piloting of precast and prefab technologies to benefit victims of shack fires and the elderly.”

This appears compassionate and responsive but is a superficial solution to a deep-rooted crisis that affects the dignity of thousands of Namibians.

The right to adequate housing is not a favour granted by the state – it is a constitutional obligation.

Our Constitution calls on the state to actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people, including providing adequate housing.
What we see is not the fulfilment of this obligation but an apparent shortcut around it.

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

Prefab homes are not new. They have been used around the world for decades.

While they can offer temporary shelter solutions, they are not a viable long-term strategy to tackle our housing deficit.

Their structural lifespan is often shorter, maintenance is costlier in the long run, and their thermal efficiency is poor in climates such as ours.

Will these homes still stand in 20 years? Will they offer comfort and pride to their occupants or will they deteriorate?
The cost factor is even more troubling.

While it is claimed that prefab housing is cheaper, estimates internationally show that once shipping, logistics, customs fees, site preparation,

utility connections and foreign exchange volatility are factored in, the final cost can match or exceed that of traditional low-cost homes.

What value do we derive as a country when the materials and the profits are exported abroad instead of building capacity here at home?

Instead of investing in Namibia’s construction sector, empowering local builders, sourcing Namibian materials and creating jobs, this project seems poised to benefit foreign suppliers and politically connected contractors.

How does this align with the Harambee Prosperity Plan or Vision 2030?
Or more importantly, how does this uplift the man or woman in Havana, Goreangab, Okuryangava or Kuisebmond still living in zinc and cardboard constructions?

LET’S GET REAL

The people of Namibia are not naive. We must not insult their intelligence with rushed projects that promise dignity but don’t deliver.
Our leaders must not confuse urgency with carelessness.

The victims of shack fires, the elderly and the working poor deserve homes – not political gestures with weak foundations.

If the government is serious about the housing crisis, it must publish a full financial breakdown of this prefab project, identify sourcing strategies, ensure independent oversight and explain how it builds the Namibian economy.

Anything less will be perceived as disinterest in genuinely solving the problem.
Namibians are not asking for palaces.

They want safe, affordable, permanent homes where their children can dream beyond the sound of leaking roofs and crumbling walls.
They are asking for leadership with vision, not optics.

The housing crisis in Namibia demands real solutions, not prefab illusions.

– Hidipo Hamata is a former member of Namibia’s seventh parliament. He is from Omafo, Helao Nafidi. This article is written in his personal capacity.

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