Rundu formalises informal settlements

RUNDU – The Rundu Town Council and the Government of Luxembourg on Tuesday launched an awareness campaign on the formalisation of two informal settlements.

The project to turn Sauyemwa and Kehemu into formal settlements aims to increase the proportion of people with secure tenure as well as upgrading the residents’ water and sanitation network. The 2006 to 2010 project would cost about N$50 million of which about N$2,5 million has been contributed by the Namibian Government.The project’s Chief Technical Advisor, James Sauramba explained at a press conference that the project is a pro-poor response to the urbanisation challenges at the town.Around 50 000 of the town’s 62 000 inhabitants live in informal settlements, Sauramba said.The Chief Technical Adviser observed that as the formalisation project drifts into full-scale implementation, the cooperation of all stakeholders would be important to ensure that the exercise was a success.Given the nature of any formalisation project, Sauramba said beneficiary communities should prepare themselves for the possibility of displacement or in cases where some erven might change in sizes in order to comply with certain town planning and registration requirements.Rundu Town Mayor Gosbert Mandema said the success of the formalisation process must be complimented by the residents’ efforts, dedication and commitment.NampaThe 2006 to 2010 project would cost about N$50 million of which about N$2,5 million has been contributed by the Namibian Government.The project’s Chief Technical Advisor, James Sauramba explained at a press conference that the project is a pro-poor response to the urbanisation challenges at the town.Around 50 000 of the town’s 62 000 inhabitants live in informal settlements, Sauramba said.The Chief Technical Adviser observed that as the formalisation project drifts into full-scale implementation, the cooperation of all stakeholders would be important to ensure that the exercise was a success.Given the nature of any formalisation project, Sauramba said beneficiary communities should prepare themselves for the possibility of displacement or in cases where some erven might change in sizes in order to comply with certain town planning and registration requirements.Rundu Town Mayor Gosbert Mandema said the success of the formalisation process must be complimented by the residents’ efforts, dedication and commitment.Nampa