By Lylie Happiness
Oshakati, Oct. 27 – Government remains committed to delivering affordable housing to as many Namibians as possible.
This was said by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni during the official handover of 81 houses constructed by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) at Outapi on Thursday.
Uutoni said they cannot overemphasise their collective responsibility as stakeholders within the housing sector, toward delivering affordable and quality housing to communities in the interest of improving the living conditions of the people.
“It is evident that even in these challenging economic times, the government takes housing seriously and through our institutions like the NHE and town councils, we are persistent in dignifying the lives of our citizens around the country,” he said.
He said it is evident that even in these challenging economic times, the government takes housing seriously and through institutions like the NHE and town councils, they are persistent in making people live in dignity.
Uutoni said NHE is building 70 houses in Okahao and will soon start a 33-house project in Tsandi.
NHE chairperson Sam Shivute said NHE had partnered with Tona Trade Holdings, to deliver 81 houses in Outapi.
“The partnership is based on a Turnkey model, where the NHE provides the land to the contractor who brings in the financial and technical expertise,” he said, adding that NHE then sells the houses to pay the contractor.
Shivute said they first had to service the land, since the area had no bulk services for a cost of N$9 million, while the construction of houses cost N$29 million.
He said NHE has already paid about 85% of what is owed.
According to him, a total of 344 people from the Outapi community and surrounding areas were employed on this project. This included the youth between the ages of 17-35, as well as 35 women among them.
The cost involved and the benefits of their projects demonstrate the extent to which the NHE goes to provide affordable quality houses, and also in the process contribute to the locality’s economic development.
