Namibia's housing backlog has surpassed 270 thousand units, while more than 200,000 households are now living in informal settlements across the country.

With more than 400 informal settlements, many without basic services, it is against this backdrop that Ministers of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa says urgent and large-scale intervention is needed to address the housing crisis.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony of 82 houses constructed by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) through informal settlements upgrading programmes held at Swakopmund, Sankwasa says the number of households in informal settlements increased by 192% between 2011 and 2023, and the figure is likely to have grown further.

He acknowledges that the 82 houses are far from enough, particularly as thousands of people live in Swakopmund's DRC settlement.

However, he says the project demonstrates that informal settlements can be transformed through partnerships between government, NHE, local authorities and the private sector.

The government has also endorsed more than 100,000 affordable houses across the country, with qualifying houses capped at N$400,000.

The minister's speech was delivered on his behalf by his deputy, Eveline ! Nawases-Taeyele

"Housing remains one of the most pressing developmental challenges facing our country. For this reason, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, under the leadership of Her Excellency President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has placed access to decent, affordable housing among its key priorities."

Sankwasa says the programme will also expand Rent to Own opportunities for Namibians who cannot qualify for traditional mortgages.

He is calling on local authorities to make land available, speed up approval processes and remove unnecessary administrative barriers to affordable housing development.

"Land must be made available, approval processes must be efficient, and unnecessary administrative barriers must be removed. Where responsible private capital is available to build affordable houses for our people, our institutions must become facilitators of development rather than obstacles to it."

Sankwasa further says housing delivery must be supported by economic opportunities, urging the Swakopmund Municipality to strengthen the informal economy so residents can increase their income and afford decent homes.