Mushelenga expects NHAC’s advice on housing matters

WINDHOEK, 07 NOV – Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Peya Mushelenga on Wednesday called on the newly appointed National Housing Advisory Committee to monitor and evaluate regional councils, local authorities and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
Mushelenga made these remarks at the first meeting of the committee with the minister in the capital.
“Come up with solutions and advise me on how to resolve the slow provision of housing and urban land related matters,” he urged.
The NHAC is made up of five members who will serve a three-year term that started on 14 September 2018.
The committee is comprised of Ben Kathindi, Edith Mbanga, Cacious Siboleka, Adriaan Grobler and Erickson Mwanyekange, with Mbanga being the only member retained from the previous committee.
Mushelenga asked the members to deliver their duties based on the functions stipulated in Sections 5 (1) of the National Housing Development Act 28 of 2000.
Housing, according to the minister, has gained prominence as one of the key national development priorities and an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality, as well as for bringing about social harmony, economic advancement and ensuring political stability.
The minister added that houses are expensive because there is no competition or sufficient stock and those who are in the property businesses seem to exploit the market.
Mbanga, who represents the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia in the committee, told Nampa the previous committee did not do much and she hopes to see the current committee do more.
“I hope that we as a committee will advise the honourable minister on issues of housing and, as he said, the issues of urban land, which are the outstanding huge challenges,” she said.
(NAMPA)