The government’s Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP) across Namibia is facing major delays, with only three out of 21 project sites showing any progress, though these remain uncompleted.
During a recent familiarisation visit to the newly initiated Otjomuise Extension 10, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni reported that the project currently has 362 uncompleted units.
Additionally, Opuwo has 24 uncompleted houses, while Swakopmund, which previously had 505 uncompleted units, now has 186 remaining after 319 were completed between October 2022 and June 2023.
“Out of the total of 21 sites across the country where the Mass Housing projects were implemented, only three sites have commenced-but-uncompleted houses. These are this site (Otjomuise Extension 10) with 362 uncompleted houses; Opuwo with 24 uncompleted housing units and Swakopmund which now only has 186 uncompleted houses,” he said.
This comes after, the government under the leadership of former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment towards scaling up the provision of affordable housing when the Cabinet adopted the MHDP Blueprint in 2013.
A total of 21 sites were selected in the various regions of the country, mainly the regional capitals, where projects under the MHDP were to be implemented.
The Minister noted that the appointment of a contractor to complete the 24 houses at Opuwo is at an advanced stage, and work is expected to start during this financial year.
“Efforts are also being made to resolve the dispute, which will allow the appointment of a contractor to complete the remaining 186 housing units at Swakopmund,” he noted.
Meanwhile, regarding the Otjomuise project, “work resumed on 1May this year and is due for Practical Completion over 12 months, scheduled for 1 June 2025. I am truly delighted that work on this project has resumed after a long halt, and it is my sincere hope that this project will not be the last one to be completed”.
Uutoni noted that the completed houses will be allocated and occupied by the beneficiaries who will be selected based on the waiting list of NHE and the Windhoek Municipality on a first-come-first-served basis.
“I wish to take this platform to urge the contractor, the principal agent and my Executive Director and his team which includes officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that this project remains on course and its completion is expedited where possible,” he said.
The Minister recognised that at times the houses that were being constructed including under the first phase of the Programme were not affordable to all the needy, especially the low-income groups.
This comes as the government’s revised National Housing Policy, approved last year, aims to increase funding and investment in land and housing for low-income groups, establishing a housing subsidy and provisions for various housing programmes.
Meanwhile, projects like the Windhoek Informal Settlement Upgrading Affordable Housing Project are underway, encouraging uniformed members to register with the Municipality and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
Uutoni said the policy emphasises local authorities’ roles in delivering at least 5,000 new houses and 6,500 residential plots annually.
He further noted that the government alone will not be able to address the housing shortage in the country.
“This requires a team effort in the spirit of Harambee, where the government, the private sector and civic society are working together and pulling in the same direction. In this regard, initiatives such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are commendable but only if the houses are affordable to the people, hence PPPs should be positively understood that the aim is not to make exorbitant profits draining the pockets of the poor,” he said.
