Govt ropes in experts to craft rent control bill
Experts have been brought in to help government formulate a rent control bill that aims to regulate rental prices in the residential property market once introduced.
This is according to urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni, while responding to a claim by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune that government is dragging its feet with regards to bringing the bill to parliament.
Katjimune recently quizzed Uutoni on the status of the bill and why there was a delay in presenting it in the National Assembly for scrutiny.
According to Uutoni, the bill is still under review, with the ministry paying keen attention to the consequences it may have.
“We have a draft bill, but it is still undergoing a refinement process. The ministry has engaged a team of experts to assist in this process, and we are also getting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General to ensure a fine balance between the constitutional provisions on the right to property and other public interests or other challenges that we are pursuing to address through the proposed new law,” Uutoni said. “The team of experts is busy scrutinising the draft bill, which, in due time, is expected to be presented to relevant structures,” he added.
Urgent need
“The burgeoning property rental market, fuelled by market dynamics, has left hundreds of thousands of ordinary, hardworking Namibians in the precarious position of being tenants. It is therefore undeniable that the significant majority of our working class people cannot afford to purchase a property of their own and have resorted to becoming tenants and renting.”
“Why has the honourable minister dragged his feet in bringing the Rent Control Bill to parliament? When can we expect the honourable minister to table the Rent Control Bill in Parliament? What are the hindrances to bringing this crucial piece of legislation to this August House?” Katjimune asked.
This is according to urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni, while responding to a claim by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune that government is dragging its feet with regards to bringing the bill to parliament.
Katjimune recently quizzed Uutoni on the status of the bill and why there was a delay in presenting it in the National Assembly for scrutiny.
According to Uutoni, the bill is still under review, with the ministry paying keen attention to the consequences it may have.
“We have a draft bill, but it is still undergoing a refinement process. The ministry has engaged a team of experts to assist in this process, and we are also getting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General to ensure a fine balance between the constitutional provisions on the right to property and other public interests or other challenges that we are pursuing to address through the proposed new law,” Uutoni said. “The team of experts is busy scrutinising the draft bill, which, in due time, is expected to be presented to relevant structures,” he added.
Urgent need
“The burgeoning property rental market, fuelled by market dynamics, has left hundreds of thousands of ordinary, hardworking Namibians in the precarious position of being tenants. It is therefore undeniable that the significant majority of our working class people cannot afford to purchase a property of their own and have resorted to becoming tenants and renting.”
“Why has the honourable minister dragged his feet in bringing the Rent Control Bill to parliament? When can we expect the honourable minister to table the Rent Control Bill in Parliament? What are the hindrances to bringing this crucial piece of legislation to this August House?” Katjimune asked.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article