To address the housing backlog, the government has handed over 4000 housing units since the inception of the Mass Housing Development Programme in 2014, up to July 2023.
The MHDP commenced with projects at 21 sites around the country.
Today, in addition to that number, an additional 89 recently completed houses were officiated by President Hage Geingob at Swakopmund.
President Geingob says that the National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan provides accelerated interventions and actions to scale up the upgrading of 60% of existing informal settlements across the country.
He says this has resulted in the servicing of an estimated 340,000 new plots and the construction of an estimated 221,000 new houses over the next five years.
Dr. Geingob further says that only through enhanced collaborative action and unity of purpose involving all stakeholders will the government achieve national housing delivery.
The country, he adds, has proven on multiple occasions that when they forge alliances across all social groups, sectors of the economy, and the entire spectrum of the governance architecture, no challenge is insurmountable.
"Furthermore, in keeping with our resolve towards scaling up the delivery of more serviced land and housing, as well as my declaration of emergency due to the poor living conditions of people who reside in informal settlements, as a humanitarian crisis requiring urgent action, the Cabinet on November 7, 2023, approved the revised National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan."
Erongo Governor Neville Andre said that for more than 8 years, the area has been abandoned by contractors; however, the government has made efforts to make it possible for people to get the best services.
Governor André could not hide his joy at the occasion.
"It fills me with great pride to see Namibians from all walks of life, cleaners, tellers at retail shops, clerks, tourism and hospitality workers, artists, mine workers, police officers, and teachers, becoming proud home-owners. For some who had to bear the impact of the extremely cold weather in Swakopmund, living in makeshift shacks in people's backyards is indeed a proud moment."
With Christmas around the corner, some new homeowners say that for the first time, they will spend Christmas in houses that they can call their own.
The area will have a green space that will accommodate a children's playground.