The National Housing Enterprise (NHE), in collaboration with the Gobabis Municipality, constructed 65 houses with the aim of ensuring that low-income earners in Gobabis have a roof over their heads.
Gobabis Mayor Melba Tjozongoro says the council is working tirelessly with various key stakeholders to bring much-needed development to town.
"The provision is one of the mandates of the municipality of Gobabis; however, the housing backlog in Namibia at large is so huge that it has become a challenge for the municipality of Gobabis to meet the demand for housing in Gobabis, but this alone cannot be realised by the municipality alone but by the Gobabis community too."
Speaking at the official handover of houses, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, stressed that the government recognised the right to a decent standard of living for all citizens.
"Our currently revised and being implemented National Housing Policy and other housing frameworks are products of the government's desire and declaration that housing is one of its development priorities, to ensure that those households excluded from decent and conventional housing and services whilst concurrently creating an enabling environment for a vibrant housing market."
The Minister added that the housing shortage requires collective efforts, hence the need for the private sector and entities to come on board.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Kaenanua Kahijeta says they are delighted that they finally own an asset.
"Moving into this house symbolises not only a new chapter but also an endless responsibility to cherish as a beneficiary. I'm humbled by the opportunity to call this place home for my family and me, and I'm hopeful of the journey that has led us up to this point, the challenges we have overcome, and the sacrifices made along the way."
NHE Board Deputy Chairperson, Hasting Tjipueja, echoed that the National Housing Enterprise is fully committed to assisting in reducing the housing backlog.
"Our intention is to escalate our numbers in terms of annual delivery to ensure that we present a remarkable and tangible impact on the ever-increasing national housing backlog."
Tjipueja also revealed that the NHE is busy working on some projects to upgrade the informal settlements through public-private partnerships in various towns.