The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) is set to overhaul the eligibility criteria for the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and significantly expand land servicing for affordable housing, in line with new policy directives delivered by Minister James Sankwasa.
In his inaugural address to ministry staff this week, Sankwasa announced that the NHE will be tasked with adjusting its application processes to better accommodate middle-income earners, thereby broadening access to affordable housing.
“We are committed to strengthening the National Housing Enterprise’s affordable housing programmes to cater for a broader range of income groups,” Sankwasa said.
The Minister emphasised the need for more inclusive public spending in housing development and called for a shift in how government-supported housing is delivered.
“Public expenditure must be focused proportionally on priority target groups, and we must realign state-supported housing provision mechanisms to ensure access to adequate housing.”
To meet growing demand, MURD also plans to service at least 10,000 plots annually, supporting low- and middle-income housing construction through initiatives such as the Build Together Programme and partnerships with the Shack Dwellers Federation.
“We aim to service at least 10,000 plots every year by strengthening the Build Together Programme and supporting the Shack Dwellers Association,” Sankwasa stated.
The Ministry will also implement measures to speed up the rollout of the 2024 National Housing Policy. This includes subsidising local authorities to improve land availability and rolling out participatory upgrading programmes for informal settlements.
“Accelerating the availability of land in urban areas through subsidising local authorities is critical for the speedy implementation of the 2024 National Housing Policy,” he said.
Further, Sankwasa underlined the importance of tenure security and access to essential services such as water, sanitation, and electricity, particularly for informal settlements.
“We remain committed to upgrading informal settlements and ensuring rural water security by 2027 as key priorities to improve living conditions for all.”
The Minister’s address also acknowledged the recent allocation of N$500 million by the government to formalise informal settlements, as announced by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare.
“It is us, or this Ministry, the steward and project managers of the realisation of the formalisation of informal settlements, without further delay. Are we ready?” Sankwasa challenged Ministry staff.
“Corruption in all its manifestations should be avoided at all cost. Public servants must maintain high ethical standards and deliver the best possible service timeously, without favouritism,” he said.
Ministry staff have been given 21 days to produce a comprehensive Implementation Plan and Strategy under the leadership of newly appointed Executive Director, Wilhelmina Shivute.
