Klazen hands over 28 SDFN houses and launches 22 others at Berseba

BERSEBA, 08 JUL  – Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Derek Klazen on Friday handed over 28 houses built under the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in Berseba and launched 22 others.
The 28 houses were built by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, Standard Bank and Ohorongo Cement and it cost the three entities N.dollars 896 000. The ministry will fund the planned 22 houses, according to Klazen.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Standard Bank’s Head of Marketing and Communication, Magreth Mengo said housing is one of the biggest challenges in Namibia, and that is how the bank’s Buy-a-Brick initiative was born in collaboration with the federation.
“Through this initiative we seek to provide affordable housing for low or no income households in Namibia, through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia,” she said.
Mengo said this year, Standard Bank handed over N.dollars 3.7 million to the federation through the Buy-a-Brick initiative.
“These funds were raised within our communities and valued corporate partners and this means a lot more people will in a few short months have a decent place they can call home. Buy-a-Brick has become a truly Namibian initiative, because our blue bankers, communities and fellow responsible corporate citizens are taking ownership of it,” Mengo remarked.
She further said Standard Bank believes that adequate housing for the disadvantaged is an inherent basic right that will ignite great opportunities in the lives of the people to not only become proud home owners, but to also help them break out of poverty and live a dignified life with a proper roof over their heads.
“What is alarming for us is that currently, Namibia is facing a housing backlog of 100 000 and this number is growing by 3 700 every year. It therefore goes without saying that this is not a problem for the government alone; it requires the involvement of us all as a nation.”
Speaking to this news agency, one of the house beneficiaries, Elizabeth Goliath said she was thankful for what the federation has done for her and her family.
“Thank you, Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia,” she said.

NAMPA