Omaruru SDFN members receive homes

OMARURU, 18 MAY  – Some members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in Omaruru in the Erongo Region could not contain their happiness after receiving their new homes on Thursday.
One of the beneficiaries was Nicolette Karunga, who has been a member of the federation since 2004 and told Nampa in an interview that she worked extra hard to build her house.
“We started building my house since last year and it is finally done and I am so happy,” Karunga noted.
Pensioner Johnson Masango Mazina, who is 66 years old, aims to extend his one bedroom house as soon as funds are available for him.
The 92 houses were handed over by Minister of Urban and Rural Development (MURD), Peya Mushelenga who commended the SDFN for their commitment to providing affordable housing to low and ultra-low income groups.
“It is evident in our community that housing and improved sanitation is a key national development priorities and an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality as well as for bringing about social harmony, among other factors,” Mushelenga stressed.
The houses were funded by both the ministry and the First National Bank of Namibia (FNB)’s Foundation along with the Pupkewitz Foundation Trust and Neopaint.
Speaking on behalf on the private sector, FNB’s Angelique Peake noted that the collaboration honours the call of the country’s national development policies, which address the need for decent and adequate housing.
“Mobilising communities to become actively involved and give them access to decent shelter as well as skills to improve their lives is important to us as partners,” Peake said.
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) is a network of 605 saving schemes with about 20400 members throughout the country.
Community savings is used to secure land and to leverage additional government contributions.

NAMPA