Photo: Annakleta Haikera
By: Annakleta Haikera
More than N$14 million has been invested in building 402 houses for low-income families across the Kavango West Region through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).
Each house is valued at N$35,000, bringing the total value of the houses to N$14,1 million.
The houses are spread across Nkurenkuru, which has 192 units, Rupara with 116, Kahenge with 43, Mpungu with 30, and Katjinakatji with 21.
At Katjinakatji Growth Point, 21 families received their new homes on Friday, a milestone for beneficiaries who contributed their own savings and labour towards making homeownership possible.
For Aune Kambinda, the new house means an end to years of uncertainty in a makeshift shelter.
Kambinda said hope had been restored, adding that she could now sleep peacefully without worrying that strong winds would blow her house away.
The houses, valued at N$35,000 each, comprise one bedroom, a sitting room and a bathroom.
Nkurenkuru Constituency councillor Fillipus Tenga handed over the houses on behalf of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa.
Mankumpi Constituency councillor Lucas Muha said the handover had sparked further interest in the programme, with 49 new applications received for the next phase.
Muha said the applications were undergoing scrutiny, with the first 20 beneficiaries expected to be announced soon.
He encouraged residents from surrounding villages to apply, explaining that the initiative was not limited to Katjinakatji residents but also catered for people seeking to settle in the town.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Willem Mbangu said the achievement was the result of collective effort, with members saving small amounts weekly, making their own bricks and working alongside builders to construct their houses.
He thanked the government, traditional authorities and private-sector partners for supporting the initiative.
The project received N$30,000 from the Governor’s Office, N$50,000 from Telecom Namibia and 100 bags of cement from the Kavango West Regional Council through the councillor’s office. The contributions helped beneficiaries produce bricks and acquire roofing materials.
Mbangu said the federation has more than 30,000 members nationally, has accumulated savings exceeding N$45 million and has built more than 11,000 houses since 1998.
Despite the progress, he called for further support from government and development partners to help more low-income families access decent housing.
He also urged the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the regional council to provide essential services, including water, electricity, sewerage systems and roads, in housing areas.
Mbangu further encouraged beneficiaries to maintain their houses and repay their revolving funds, allowing the money to support other families still waiting for an opportunity to own homes.
With 49 new applications already under consideration in Mankumpi Constituency, the demand for affordable housing remains evident, as more families look to move from makeshift shelters into secure homes of their own.
annakletahaikera@eaglefm.com.na
