The ||Kharas Regional Council has introduced the flexible land tenure scheme at Aussenkehr Settlement to improve the living conditions of locals, most of them still living in reed houses.

||Kharas Governor Aletha Frederick said this in her regional development report on Tuesday. 

The flexible land tenure scheme is designed to specifically cater for the low-income groups within settlement areas. 

300 erven have been allocated at Aussenkehr to grape companies, namely Silverlands and Namibia Grape Company, to commence with the construction of houses for their workers. 

"Together, these efforts reflect the regional council's unwavering dedication to improving not only housing but also overall living conditions for all individuals in Aussenkehr."

The governor says plans are on the cards to have both Aussenkehr and Noordoewer settlements upgraded to Local Authority status. 

She, however, says due to financial constraints, the council resolved to first focus on facilitating that Rosh Pinah is proclaimed as a town. 

The governor says a budgetary provision of N$1.5 million has been made in the 2024/2025 financial year to improve basic sanitation facilities in rural areas. 

Five percent of rates and taxes collected from local authorities will be directed towards constituency development. 

"A portion of these funds have already been utilised for impactful rural development projects, demonstrating our proactive approach to community enhancement."

Key rural development projects, among others, food for work and microfinance of N$312,463 were also implemented during the current financial year.