Collaborate to solve housing crisis, deputy minister says
The Henties Bay Land Development Conference convened on Tuesday to address the pressing challenges of land development and housing,
Deputy minister of urban and rural development, Eveline !Nawases-Taeyele highlighted government's commitment to ensure equal access to land and housing.
"We are working towards restoring the dignity of our people and promoting the collective welfare of our citizens. This initiative provides credence to our Constitution and marks significant progress in our fight against destitution.”
She also emphasised the critical role of public-private partnerships in addressing these challenges.
“The challenges that hamper affordable, serviced land and adequate housing cannot be addressed by the government alone,” she said.
Experts from various fields, including finance, land management and public-private project management, have been invited to explore innovative approaches to sustainable land development, she noted.
Worrying situation
The deputy minister provided a sobering overview of Namibia's current situation.
"Namibia, like any developing country, is faced with a high rate of unemployment and a high poverty rate, both worsened due to the economic downturn and the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.
She pointed out that rural-urban migration has led to a proliferation of informal settlements, with urban areas seeing about 40% of such settlements compared to 11% in rural areas.
The national housing backlog stands at an estimated 300 000 units, with 70% of the demand coming from the lowest income categories.
Preliminary estimates indicate a need for 30 000 housing units annually from 2023 to 2030.
Under the Mass Housing Development Programme, the ministry has handed over 4 130 housing units since 2014. “Our resources as a government will never be enough to address all of our society’s needs. I therefore continue to call on all stakeholders, particularly in the private sector, to support housing initiatives,” urged !Nawases-Taeyele.
She also emphasised the importance of basic infrastructure, such as water and sanitation to improve living conditions. “Access to affordable land, water, and proper sanitation and hygiene is a critical need for our people. This brings human dignity to our citizens,” she said.
Deputy minister of urban and rural development, Eveline !Nawases-Taeyele highlighted government's commitment to ensure equal access to land and housing.
"We are working towards restoring the dignity of our people and promoting the collective welfare of our citizens. This initiative provides credence to our Constitution and marks significant progress in our fight against destitution.”
She also emphasised the critical role of public-private partnerships in addressing these challenges.
“The challenges that hamper affordable, serviced land and adequate housing cannot be addressed by the government alone,” she said.
Experts from various fields, including finance, land management and public-private project management, have been invited to explore innovative approaches to sustainable land development, she noted.
Worrying situation
The deputy minister provided a sobering overview of Namibia's current situation.
"Namibia, like any developing country, is faced with a high rate of unemployment and a high poverty rate, both worsened due to the economic downturn and the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.
She pointed out that rural-urban migration has led to a proliferation of informal settlements, with urban areas seeing about 40% of such settlements compared to 11% in rural areas.
The national housing backlog stands at an estimated 300 000 units, with 70% of the demand coming from the lowest income categories.
Preliminary estimates indicate a need for 30 000 housing units annually from 2023 to 2030.
Under the Mass Housing Development Programme, the ministry has handed over 4 130 housing units since 2014. “Our resources as a government will never be enough to address all of our society’s needs. I therefore continue to call on all stakeholders, particularly in the private sector, to support housing initiatives,” urged !Nawases-Taeyele.
She also emphasised the importance of basic infrastructure, such as water and sanitation to improve living conditions. “Access to affordable land, water, and proper sanitation and hygiene is a critical need for our people. This brings human dignity to our citizens,” she said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article