The Gobabis municipality maintains that despite limited resources at their disposal and with assistance from private entities, the town has made significant strides in housing provision.

Its public relations officer, Frederick Ueitele, said 200 houses have been built at various localities around town and formalisation of the informal settlement over four years.

Ueitele stressed that housing provision is one of the key aspects the council is working on, and there are plans to address the housing backlog.

With an extra 200 service plots, he said another group of houses is set to be constructed next year.

Ueitele added that the council has ensured that affordable houses are constructed for locals to avoid houses being vacant due to high costs in the long run.

"Housing is expensive, material is expensive, and the municipality of Gobabis also engages other partners, like private stakeholders whom we gave virgin land where they could construct houses, and we are happy with the progress that was made."

With regard to the informal settlements upgrade, Ueitele highlighted that there are developments at Freedom Square and Kanaan C with registration, servicing, and demarcation ongoing. 

This process is expected to be completed by year-end. 

Ueitele remarked that this process will also allow water and electricity provision at households once all work is fully finalised.

"People in the area contributed some funds for the surveying to happen; the surveying started, but I think the challenge is that the whole money was not paid to the surveyor; only a certain amount was paid. So once these people collect the remaining money, the servicing will be done. If it is done, then the municipality can come in with assistance when it comes to the engineering services."

Through the Road Fund Administration, the council has also made provision for road maintenance around town that has been in a dilapidated state.