…as 119 houses are handed over in Swakopmund
Rural and urban development minister, Erastus Uutoni has said that under the stewardship of Prime Minister, Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, they are doing everything possible to have the remaining five hundred and seventy-two (572) units commenced-but-uncompleted houses under the mass housing development programme completed as a matter of priority.
These consist of 186 houses in Swakopmund, 362 units Otjomuise Extension 10 in Windhoek and 24 units in Opuwo.
“I have directed my team to work very hard for us to resolve the dispute that is still holding up the completion of the remaining 186 houses on this site in Swakopmund as well as the resumption of work on the project sites in Windhoek and Opuwo. I have been informed that the Opuwo project is at procurement stage and also that engagements are at an advanced stage for the resumption of work at the Windhoek Otjomuise Extension 10 site,” Uutoni said.
Uutoni was speaking on occasion of the handing over of 119 houses constructed under the mass housing development programme in Swakopmund earlier this week.
“You will recall that it was during the presidency of Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba that the blueprint of the Mass Housing Development Programme was adopted by Cabinet in 2013 and the Programme implementation started in 2014. This legacy and commitment continued under the leadership of our late President, Dr. Hage Geingob through the Harambee Prosperity Plan and the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP 5), and is being continued under the current leadership of His Excellency Dr. Nangolo Mbumba.
“The visionary leadership of our leaders and team work at the implementation level has resulted in the delivery of a total of four thousand four hundred and forty-six (4,446) housing units under the Mass Housing development Programme to date, including the one hundred and nineteen (119) units whose handing over we are witnessing here today,” extended Uutoni.
Uutoni wengt on to say that while the ministry of urban and rural development is the lead on matters related to housing and urban development, they rely on team work and the valuable support of and partnerships with other stakeholders and role players in and outside the Central Government.
“I specifically wish to recognise the support and contribution of my colleagues the Ministers of Works and Transport’ Finance and Public Enterprises and the Director-General of National Planning Commission and the Attorney-General and their Executive Directors and officials. The role of the NHE in managing the allocation and mortgaging of the completed houses has ensured that the houses are made available to our people timely and orderly. I commend the Board and management in this regard,” he said adding “At the regional and local authority levels, the leadership of the Region notably the Governor and the Regional Council as well as that of Swakopmund Municipality has created the right environment and provided the necessary support that has enabled the delivery of houses for our people under this project and other initiatives. I commend you all for this.”
Furthermore, Uutoni highlighted that they are fully aware that they need to meet the needs for decent and affordable housing for all people.
“In this connection, Cabinet last year in November approved the revised National Housing Policy with a 5-year Implementation Action Plan. The Policy seeks to reinforce and scale up ongoing collaborative actions and partnerships between the Government, community-based organisations and the private sector, and gives special attention to improvement of conditions in informal settlements and the needs of identified target groups notably the ultra-low, low and middle-income groups which constitute approximately 88 percent (88%) of the 7 section of the population that is in need of affordable land and decent housing,” he explained.
“We are finalising arrangements for the official launch of the Policy and implementation Plan and the dissemination information hereon in due course.”