Hundreds of Swakopmund residents who rent houses and shacks have called for urgent action on Namibia's slow provision of affordable land and housing.

The residents have expressed frustration as they gathered to strategise on how their demand for affordable land and housing can be heard.

At the heart of the protest is the newly formed Rent Payers Movement, which called a meeting to mobilise the masses and urge the authorities to take action.

“It is unacceptable that after decades of independence, many of us still remain landless in our own country. We are here to send a clear message to the municipality and government of Namibia. We are tired of this situation; we are tired of promises; we want our houses now,” the Founder of the Rent Payers Movement, !Narib Mabasen explained.

Mabasen said the movement was formed to organise rent payers and amplify their voices, as rising rental costs continue to squeeze families.

“A state of emergency should be declared to address the housing crisis. There are many avenues through which land can be serviced. Collaboration with the private sector can play a pivotal role in speeding up the land availability. We are equally tired of hearing the excuse—there is no serviced land. Give land to first-time buyers. Some have waited for more than 15 years, even 20 years, while nearly 600 houses are standing in Matutura. Those houses are standing uncompleted, abandoned for almost 10 years.”

The rent payers argued that high land prices and long waiting lists have locked them out of ownership for more than a decade, while some landlords own up to eight properties.

“We are exhausted. Our finances are exhausted. We were supposed to pay our installments of the money that we are paying the rent for. We are enriching our landlords, which is very unfair, and then they are selling each other under the table the land, and then they are buying that land and building apartments. The rich are just getting richer,” Elizabeth Hawases noted.

Valencia Owosses also expressed her frustration.

“We are staying in one bedroom. one small room with the kids. There is no privacy. Some of us are married; we have families. As elders, as mature people, as grown-ups, there is nothing we can do.” 

The movement vowed to spend the rest of the month registering rent payers, with plans to escalate action in March if their demands are not met.