The City of Windhoek (CoW) has put the Cimbebasia low-cost housing initiative on hold to implement flood mitigation measures in the area, which has been identified as highly flood-prone.
The project, aimed at addressing the capital’s housing shortage, was expected to take up to four years to complete and provide 900 homes on 24 hectares of land south of Mataman Street in Cimbebasia.
The municipality was targeting housing unit prices of between N$380,000 and N$650,000.
Despite initial plans to finalize the conceptualization phase by December 2021, progress has been slow.
Additionally, the City of Windhoek has yet to secure funding mechanisms for the large-scale housing initiative.
“The Cimbebasia low-cost housing project remains a priority for the City. However, it is currently on hold pending the implementation of flood mitigation measures in the area. Efforts are ongoing to resolve these challenges to ensure the project’s timely continuation,” City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya told The Brief.
The decision to delay the housing project follows increasing challenges with flooding in the city, a development that has affected approximately 308 households and displaced around 1,250 residents this year.
Among them, 11 households were severely impacted, with their structures completely destroyed and washed away, leaving occupants in urgent need of assistance.
Amutenya said the City is currently prioritizing the implementation of flood control measures, including improving stormwater drainage infrastructure, elevating flood-prone areas, and identifying alternative settlement sites.
“Additionally, long-term urban resilience strategies are being integrated into city planning to reduce vulnerability to floods. The City also plans to intensify community education and awareness campaigns to discourage settlement in high-risk areas, such as riverbeds and low-lying zones,” she said.
She added that interventions are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the City evaluating each situation individually to determine the best course of action for affected residents.
“Where feasible, affected residents in high-risk areas may be relocated to safer locations. However, due to limited land availability, some may remain in their current locations while infrastructural improvements are made to mitigate risks,” she said.
