Unoccupied mass houses: Govt asks court to stop Amushelelo

CalgroKuumba, a company responsible for the construction of several unoccupied mass housing properties in Windhoek, and the ministry of urban and rural development have filed an urgent interdict to stop illegal occupation of the houses, planned for 29 February.This follows threats by Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEEF) and its commissar for economics Michael Amushelelo that they will illegally occupy the homes that were built as part of the mass housing project championed by former president Hifikepunye Pohamba.The company and the ministry have cited disruption in the completion of construction and failure to successfully hand the houses over to government should Amushelelo be permitted to execute his plan.CalgroKuumba also finds itself embroiled in a legal dispute with government regarding the construction of the houses and their subsequent completion.False hopeIn a series of social media posts, Amushelelo encouraged landless individuals to occupy the empty houses, located in Otjomuise.In their application to the Windhoek High Court, CalgroKuumba and the ministry called Amushelelo’s actions morally questionable, saying landless Namibians were being given false hope.“Such conduct, besides constituting an intended abuse of process and misuse of the courts’ resources, is an act of moral turpitude on the part of the NEFF and Amushelelo in that they are inspiring a false sense of hope in thousands of Namibian citizens of becoming homeowners, with the knowledge that such occupation would be unlawful and temporary,” they said through lawyer Andries Olivier.Olivier expressed worry that the NEFF and Amushelelo were placing landless Namibians in harm’s way, considering possible interventions on the part of the Namibian Police to stop the illegal occupations.‘Substantial losses’The planned occupation would also lead to CalgroKuumba being unable to recoup its costs, while the ministry would not be able to successfully hand over the properties, they said.“A delay in the completion of the houses will result in substantial losses to [CalgroKuumba and the ministry]. For every day that the completion of houses is delayed, there is an expense of about N$26 700 which will never be recovered,” Olivier said.The planned occupation would also mean CalgroKuumba will not be able to sell the houses.“If the NEFF, Amushelelo and the land applicants take occupation of the vacant erven on the property, CalgroKuumba... will suffer a loss in response of potential profits.”Olivier further argued that there was no evidence that the NEFF and Amushelelo were proactively engaging government to find an amicable solution to Namibia’s housing crisis.

Unoccupied mass houses: Govt asks court to stop Amushelelo

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Unoccupied mass houses: Govt asks court to stop Amushelelo

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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