The Namibian government intends to accelerate nationwide upgrading of informal settlements and implement proactive incremental land servicing.
The government plans are highlighted in the Revised National Housing Policy and its Implementation Action Plan, which has received Cabinet approval.
“Cabinet approved the Revised National Housing Policy, its Implementation Action Plan, and related estimated financial implications to enable improved access to housing, inclusive and sustainable economic development,” Peya Mushelenga, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, said.
He said the Policy will prioritise and redistribute State resources towards the lowest income groups through intensified and mixed-use urban development.
“Prioritisation and redistribution of State resources towards the lowest income groups through intensified and mixed-use urban development, which will contribute to socioeconomic empowerment impact on the majority of the population and the creation of opportunities for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
The Policy further promotes enhanced partnership and an incremental development approach at all levels.
“We are committed to developing the required capacities and more inclusive and agile structures and mechanisms for the effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Policy Implementation Action Plan,” Mushelenga affirmed.
This comes as, according to the housing policy, Namibia experiences a daunting housing backlog, a situation that calls for accelerated housing development efforts.
The Policy reviewed in 2009 notes that 40% of the Namibian population is under the age of 15, and 51.2% are below the age of 19 years.
Thus, then only 2.4% of the inhabitants are older than 75 years and this situation has a direct effect on the housing demand state.
“In the case of the low scenario, the total need of 265,609 units would be required by the year 2030; for the medium scenario the total would be 288,620 units, and for the high scenario 311,766 units would be required,” the document reads.
