The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) says it plans to service at least 10,000 erven and construct 10,000 affordable housing units each year under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) for 2025 to 2030.
The commitment was announced on Friday as government handed over 377 completed Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP) units at Otjomuise Extension 10 in Windhoek.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa said the latest handover includes 58 units completed under a direct contract with CalgroKuumBa Planning and Design and 319 delivered through a public–private partnership (PPP).
He said the delivery brings the total number of MHDP houses completed nationwide to 4,826 since the programme began in 2014, adding that although progress had been slow, the houses will provide long-awaited relief to beneficiaries.
“Over the next five-year period, we will have fifty thousand (50,000) serviced plots and affordable houses,” Sankwasa said.
He confirmed that 514 MHDP units are still outstanding: 24 in Opuwo, 186 in Swakopmund and 304 in Windhoek. He said the government is close to finalising agreements that would resolve a legal dispute delaying work in Swakopmund, allowing construction to resume.
On the PPP component, the minister said the partner company has so far delivered 319 of the planned 1,709 units, with 336 currently under construction. He urged the developer to accelerate delivery to help meet rising demand.
“The majority of people in need of housing are low-income earners, who make up 87.5% of households with an average monthly income of N$10,000,” he said.
Sankwasa said housing delivery requires coordinated support from the construction industry, community groups and state institutions such as the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, National Housing Enterprise and Namibia Housing Action Group.
He also raised concern about beneficiaries defaulting on mortgage repayments, stressing that government subsidises MHDP houses by up to 75% to keep them affordable.
“On its part, the Government through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development will continue to mobilise and avail resources to Regional Councils, Local Authorities, NHE and community groups such as the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia to service land and provide housing, with special focus on those who live in backyards and improper structures,” he said.
