The Mass Housing Development Programme has made another deposit of 119 houses at Matutura Extension 9 in Swakopmund, narrowing the housing gap in the country.
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, says this shows the government's commitment to addressing the housing backlog.
The 119 houses that were handed over are the last batch of the 319 houses that were given to New Era Investments for completion in 2022.
Uutoni noted, with great appreciation, that the 319 houses have been completed ahead of schedule.
He applauded the contractor and other key players who have made this possible.
"We were here on this site for the ground-breaking, marking the resumption of work for the 319 commenced-but-uncompleted houses. Since then, and due to the hard work and teamwork on the part of the appointed contractor, New Era Investments, and the government team led by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, we have been handing over completed houses in batches. The last handover of 89 houses was done by our departed President, Dr. Hage Geingob, on December 14, 2023."
Erongo Governor Neville Andre said the completion of 119 houses is a partnership effort by various stakeholders, saying despite the challenges encountered, they have successfully delivered.
"Last year, we were honoured to have the Late President, His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob, in what was his last public appearance in our region, where he handed over houses to happy and worthy recipients. What made this programme more significant is that these houses are occupied by those who wouldn't in any way succeed in home loans; these are your low earners from both the public and private sectors, respectively, which is a true indication of a caring government."
The town's mayor, Dina Namubes, says that over the years, the town of Swakopmund has seen an increase in investment opportunities in the mining, tourism, fishing, and urban agriculture sectors.
This has increased the population, pushing housing demand up.
"A home is a place of safety, comfort, and hope. It is where families are nurtured, dreams are born, and memories are created. We understand that a secure and stable home environment is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of our citizens."