Namibia has a shortfall of 500,000 houses, and President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has expressed concern over the slow pace of delivery against the government's target.
She wanted answers on how many homes have been built since 2025, as locally manufactured prefabricated houses offer one option to replace shacks with affordable homes.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah put the spotlight on the housing delivery record and questioned whether the country is on track to meet its annual target of 10,000 houses.
Under the sixth National Development Plan, the aim is to build 50,000 by 2030.
However, with the housing backlog standing at 500,000, President Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that time is running out.
“I'm worried because now I have lost a year and almost a half. I still have to ask those who are involved in housing construction that since 2025, how many houses have we built? Have we reached our target of 10,000 houses, or have we not reached it?"
President Nandi-Ndaitwah handed over two houses in Windhoek's informal settlements of 8ste Laan and Kilimanjaro.
She personally funded the two units at a cost of N$200,000 each.
The houses were constructed by Yambuka Housing, a locally-owned company manufacturing prefabricated homes priced between N$120,000 and N$190,000.
The units can be assembled within seven days after the foundations are completed, offering a potential alternative to corrugated-iron shacks.
The company does not develop land, as the houses are installed on privately owned or otherwise approved land.
“We all know housing is just not infrastructure we are talking about. It's respect, it's dignity, it's a right to shelter and proper shelter,” added the President.
Yambuka Housing founder, Twapewa Kadhikwa, said citizens must also take initiative rather than leave the housing burden entirely to government.
“When are you meeting the government halfway? When must the government say, 'Hallelujah, there's Regina? Hallelujah, there's Mbako. 'So this is a demonstration of transparent leadership, and I want it to be in the history books.”
The beneficiaries of the two houses could not contain emotions, as days of them sleeping in shacks are over.
“I told God in tears how thankful I am for this house. If I could see him face-to-face, I would have, but now I am doing it through you all, my President and the country's leadership for this blessing,” stressed Menesia Ngunavandu.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and what Yambuka has done for us. I am also grateful to President Nandi-Ndaitwah for assisting us, for being here, and for being part of this event,” added Johanna Kambwela.