Providing much-needed development for the town of Walvis Bay is a costly and complex exercise due to persistent natural challenges. 

Walvis Bay Municipality General Manager for Community and Economic Development, Erikso Mwayekange stated the town continues to battle low water table and shifting sand dunes that can form overnight.

Speaking during a stakeholders consultation meeting focused on addressing Namibia's housing backlog, Mwayekange explained the situation has made land excavation and construction extremely difficult and expensive exercises.

It increases the cost of infrastructure development and housing projects in the town.

The municipality has set aside N$5 million through its housing scheme to ease the shortage but acknowledged that the amount is insufficient to meet the growing demand for housing. 

"It's a struggle and a fight for the nature there in Walvis Bay. Unlike any town in Namibia, we are fighting the nature," says Mwayekange.

He added that increasing migration to urban centres has intensified pressure on housing in Walvis Bay, forcing many residents to settle in informal settlements. 

"You see, you know how Kuisebmund is; it is not supposed to look like this. It's a demographic survey that we did. The 23 structures that I spoke about are so densely populated on one property. In one yard, since the town has existed, you find a lot of people living in one yard, and because there are a lot of toilets in one yard, we are trying to continue decongesting."

Mwayekange pointed to heavy vehicle movement within the town as another major challenge which contributes to congestion and rising maintenance costs.