Sixty houses were handed over to beneficiaries of the Informal Settlement Upgrading Affordable Housing Pilot Project in Windhoek’s Greenwell Matongo residential area on Monday.

The project is an initiative of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the City of Windhoek, the National Housing Enterprise and the Khomas Regional Council.

Speaking at the event, Khomas Regional Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua said the handing over marks the transformation of living environments for 60 households from a shack environment to a brick house environment.

She said this is especially important at present, when flash floods are being experienced in the region.

“Today we are commissioning the official transfer of households to a safe and secure environment to reduce the chance of them being victims of the unexpected flash floods,” she said.

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, urged the recipients of the houses to honour the monthly payments for their houses so that the repayments can be used to build more houses for others who are in need.

McLeod-Katjirua further said the government is fully aware that it cannot address poverty and hunger unless it addresses the question of homelessness and decent and affordable housing.

“The provision of houses will ensure a sense of personal privacy, safety and family dignity that will culminate in access to basic essential services such as water, sanitation, electricity and other daily community social services for long-term family stability,” said the governor.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency