The Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, to prepare and propose amendments to Section 74(4) of the Electoral Act.

This is in view of the review of Article 45 of the Constitution and Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act of 2014, which deals with members of the public who wish to participate in elections to the effect that such persons are deemed to have resigned upon being elected to the National Assembly or National Council and not before or upon being nominated.

The escalating population growth is putting pressure on the City of Windhoek (CoW) municipal infrastructure, intensifying demand for service delivery, and underscoring the need for government intervention. 

Among the ongoing initiatives, CoW Mayor Queen Kamati unveiled the "Informal Settlement Upgrading Pilot Project," which involves constructing 113 houses in Goreangab ext. 4. 

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) says an elaborate process is underway before the Rent Control Board is tabled in the National Assembly.

In 2015, the Cabinet passed a resolution requiring the government to introduce measures to regulate the rental market with a view to preventing the current exploitation of tenants by landlords.

The Rent Control Bill, which is supposed to activate the Rent Control Board to address steep property rental prices, needs to be tabled in the National Assembly by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has applauded the |Gaio-Daman Traditional Authority for the construction of a community hall and traditional authority offices that will bring development and serve the residents of Anker settlement in the Kamanjab Constituency.

Uutoni shared these praises at the inauguration of the two buildings.

Residents of Katutura marched to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) to seek answers over a non-response by the City of Windhoek to attend to their water and electricity petition handed in six months ago.

The demonstrators first marched to the municipal offices to collect a copy of their petition to take to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development. However, no one from the City came out to meet them.

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD), held a week-long Phase Two stakeholders' briefing session.This session was attended by councillors from local authorities and regional councils in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, and Kunene regions.

The gathering aimed at providing an explanation of the expectations from local authorities and regional councils during an audit.

This is particularly important as these two entities play a pivotal role in delivering essential services to the community.

Cabinet has issued a directive to NamPower to put on hold the planned suspensions of power supply to defaulting local authorities.

The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, said this in a letter to the NamPower Board Chairperson, Daniel Motinga, yesterday.

Shiimi says the directive to suspend power cuts is in consideration of pending consultations between the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, and the local authorities.

Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni says the matter of the Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Authorities has been referred to the Attorney General for advice.

The Council of Traditional Authorities could not elect a Vice-Chairperson last year.

Nine new traditional authorities have applied for government recognition.

This is contained in the report of the Council of Traditional Leaders handed to President Hage Geingob by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, at State House.

The applications were discussed during the 23rd annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders, held last year.

The report states that the Council of Traditional Leaders conducted a thorough review of the applications before presenting them to the government for consideration.

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Shack Dwellers Federation and partners, has constructed 57 houses for low-income earners at Gobabis.

At the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister Natalia |Goagoses, reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing the housing backlog and allowing more citizens a decent life.

|Goagoses stressed that housing is a basic right that every citizen should be able to enjoy.