The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it will debar contractors who fail to deliver projects and will implement penalties for late delivery.

Its Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, said this when he presented a report on the ministry's activities at health facilities in Windhoek.

"Contractors who fail us in the implementation of the projects are going to recommend to the policy unit that they are barred from participating in the awarding of new projects. We are also going to enforce the levying of penalties."

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, says contractors who delay national projects must be blacklisted because they fail to honour their obligations with the government.

Despite receiving payment from the government, 319 houses under the mass housing programme at Matutura were not completed because of payment disputes between the main contractor and subcontractors.