Lawmakers concerned over house prices
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Elma Dienda has criticised the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) for its slow pace of delivery and high input costs.
She said the organisation is failing to deliver on its mandate.
She emphasised that sufficient housing is not available to low- and middle-income earners and that even young parliament members rent because of steep house prices.
“The NHE continues to fail this nation, and these efforts need to be redirected. I visited the NHE head office in Windhoek, and they told me that we are not making enough funds available as government to make sure they meet their mandate," she said.
"So somewhere, somehow, we, the members of parliament, are equally failing the nation when it comes to affordable housing. The government has simply not committed to increasing public spending on urban development and housing to address the housing crisis,” Dienda said.
Address crisis
She said ultra-low and low-income groups are hardest hit by the crisis.
Dienda argued that the housing supply crisis can be addressed with legislative and policy interventions.
Landless People's Movement member of parliament Utaara Mootu underlined that housing is a human right.
"We are Namibians, yet we are homeless. How can we be patriotic tomorrow and fight for our country and do right for our country if we do not have a home?" she asked.
The debate on Namibia's housing crisis and related funding gaps has been referred to a relevant parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.
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She said the organisation is failing to deliver on its mandate.
She emphasised that sufficient housing is not available to low- and middle-income earners and that even young parliament members rent because of steep house prices.
“The NHE continues to fail this nation, and these efforts need to be redirected. I visited the NHE head office in Windhoek, and they told me that we are not making enough funds available as government to make sure they meet their mandate," she said.
"So somewhere, somehow, we, the members of parliament, are equally failing the nation when it comes to affordable housing. The government has simply not committed to increasing public spending on urban development and housing to address the housing crisis,” Dienda said.
Address crisis
She said ultra-low and low-income groups are hardest hit by the crisis.
Dienda argued that the housing supply crisis can be addressed with legislative and policy interventions.
Landless People's Movement member of parliament Utaara Mootu underlined that housing is a human right.
"We are Namibians, yet we are homeless. How can we be patriotic tomorrow and fight for our country and do right for our country if we do not have a home?" she asked.
The debate on Namibia's housing crisis and related funding gaps has been referred to a relevant parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.
- [email protected]
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