The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development on Monday handed over 54 houses built by the Shack Dwellers Federation at the Kongola settlement in the Zambezi Region.

Speaking during the official handing over of the houses, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni said housing in the country remains a very complex subject, with pressure on urban areas becoming more severe due to rapidly increasing urbanisation over the last two decades.

“The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia’s solution to housing is unique and worth supporting in that it is a case of the community itself taking action to address its own development needs,” Uutoni said.

He said the government through his ministry will continue to support the work of community-based organisations such as that of the Shack Dwellers Federation.

Uutoni said the government’s financial support towards the federation to date amounts to N.dollars 91.8 million, which was used to construct 3 064 houses countrywide.

“A further N.dollars 17 million was given to build houses at informal settlements in Gobabis, Karibib, Helao Nafidi and Walvis Bay,” he said.

Uutoni said the Shack Dwellers Federation initiative deserves to be supported by all Namibians and intensified countrywide to include all people still living in backyard shacks or overcrowded houses.

The minister called on local authorities who have jurisdiction over urban land to make serviced land available to the federation in order to facilitate construction.

“Government recognises everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living including adequate housing, and the provision of basic infrastructure remains one of our priorities at all levels,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries at Kongola, 91-year-old Maria Mutero expressed happiness to receive her own house.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency