Oranjemund avails N.dollars 19 million for servicing of low-income erven

ORANJEMUND, 15 JUL  – The Oranjemund Town Council has availed N.dollars 19 million for the servicing of about 300 erven for low-income earners.
The town council’s Chief Executive Officer, Shali Akwaanyenga told Nampa in an interview here on Friday in their quest to address the housing shortage and to avoid informal settlements at the town, the council has made land development a priority for the 2018/19 financial year.
He said the council has availed Extension 10 for low income earners to be able to build and buy houses.
“Informal settlements are one of the major challenges Namibia is experiencing and as a council, we want to ensure that there are none in Oranjemund due to a lack of housing,” Akwaanyenga said.
A low-cost housing committee has been established to guide the development of affordable housing through public-private partnerships.
Further outlining the town council’s plans, Akwaanyenga said they are keen on diversifying investment as Oranjemund previously relied on mining only.
“There is a need to commercialise and industrialise in order for the town to sustain itself,” he said.
He also said the council signed a partnership with Namdeb Holdings for the upgrading of key infrastructure over the next five years in line with Oranjemund’s transformation from a mining town to a local authority.
“As a council we have realised that we cannot transform the town on our own and the partnership is basically for Namdeb to provide funds and technical support,” he said.
Akwaanyenga further noted that Namdeb injected N.dollars 50 million into the upgrading of infrastructure such as schools, health care facilities and government offices in the 2016/17 financial year.
“Transforming the town does not end with the two entities, it also calls for innovation from private partners and local people,” he said.
Oranjemund has a population of about 10 000 people.

NAMPA