Rural and urban development minister, Erastus Uutoni has welcomed a new National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board of Directors which will be led by Toska Sem as Chairperson.
Other Board members whose appointment will be effective March 1 2023 include, Hasting Tjipuya (Deputy Chairperson), Ritta Khiba, Adda Angula, Erikson Mwanyekange, Oshoveli Hiveluah and Socrates Dias.
“I would like to use this opportunity to welcome the incoming board of directors. I would therefore like to congratulate you for having accepted to become part of this important and exciting family. Some of you have been part of this family before so there will be continuity and support between the new members and those who have been with us before. There is a wealth of knowledge and information that you can all draw from when the decisions to be taken become a challenge.
“The road ahead is exciting but full of challenges. I am sure that during the first few meetings you will realize that there is a lot of expectation and I have confidence that you as a new board will continue to support the NHE to enhance its leadership position and to impact meaningfully toward the provision of affordable housing to the Namibian people,” Uutoni said in view of the new Board.
He also thanked the outgoing Board which was led by Sam SHIVUTE saying: “Your successes since you took over and despite the challenging time is clearly notice and are visible indeed. Personally, I have interacted with you and enjoyed your support and leadership all the way during your tenure.”
Uutoni went on to tell the new Board that its main role was to perform the duties of strategic planning and oversight.
“The three main areas of the board namely; Governance, strategic direction and accountability will to help the NHE strives to promote home-ownership by being a customer-driven institution that provides housing solutions in order to alleviate the national housing need,” he said.
Further, Uutoni also expressed that Government’s commitment towards increasing opportunities for and scaling up the provision of affordable urban land and housing and access to proper sanitation has been re-emphasized, seeking to consolidate and expand the gains made in achieving the HPP II Social Progression Pillar targets.
“Government also set as a national target, in the fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) to develop 20 000 houses over a four year period and has mandated the NHE to build 5 000 houses of the target. Further as part of Vision 2023 strategy, Government has tasked the NHE to build 47 622 house by the year 2030.
“In the light, it is worth noting that the national housing backlog is currently estimated little over 300,000 housing units. It is no secret that 70% of this backlog is in the lowest income categories (income below N$1,500) who cannot access credit from financial institutions,” emphasised Uutoni.