The Namibian government remains steadfast in addressing the backlog of serviced urban land and affordable housing, providing an amount of N$297 million in subsidies to local authorities and regional councils.

President Nangolo Mbumba says this commitment is being carried out under the Mass Urban and Regional Land Servicing Programme.

The Mass Urban and Regional Land Servicing Programme has seen about 3,103 new plots fully serviced in various parts of the country, bringing the total number of serviced plots during the Harambee Prosperity Plan 2 period to 6,024. 

Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Utoni has handed over 66 low-cost housing units to the Shack Dwellers Federation at Narraville in Walvis Bay.

Utoni further vowed the government's continued financial support to the federation to ensure that residents get decent housing and land.

The journey of 66 new home owners at Narraville Walvis Bay started in 2007 when they applied for land, which the municipality donated in 2010.

For as little as one dollar per day, the members saved money, indicating their unwavering belief in their cause.

A delegation led by officials from the Nkurenkuru Town Council and members of the Shack Dwellers Federation visited the Gobabis Municipality to gain exposure to various key development projects.

Gobabis Council recently provided over 100 serviced housing plots to the federation members in response to the housing shortage.

The Chairperson of the Gobabis Municipality Management Committee, Sylvester Binga, stated that development acceleration would require collective efforts.

The government continues to support initiatives to deliver housing to low-income earners.

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development handed over 33 houses to the Shack Dwellers Federation in Windhoek's Okahandja Park.

Of the 33 houses, 22 were funded by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, while Standard Bank funded 11.

Deputy Minister Natalia |Goagoses emphasised the need to address poverty and inequality and bring about social harmony and economic advancement.

Homeowners under the Okakarara Shack Dwellers Federation have been living in unhygienic conditions due to a faulty drainage system.

The town's Chief Executive Officer, Ehrnst Katjiku, says the affected residents will, in the meantime, be provided with a short-term solution.

More than 1,000 Okakarara residents own houses through the Shark Dwellers Federation.

However, since 2019, residents say three of their drainage systems have been faulty, causing sewers to overflow and producing a stench.

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.

Land grabbers at Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa Region still refuse to vacate the land earmarked for the airport and the construction of houses by the Shack Dwellers Federation.

When the nbc News crew arrived at the site, we found some residents still busy erecting shacks.

Residents say they decided to settle on the piece of land as they did not receive feedback on their applications for land.

The Shack Dwellers Federation has begun construction of Phase Three of its housing project at Kongola in the Zambezi Region.

Residents have already received materials and begun construction of their houses.

While recognizing the project's progression, many brought attention to the fact that the area lacks water, another challenge is the transportation of materials, with everything brought in from Katima Mulilo and without proper storage space.

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) continues to provide decent housing to its members across the country.

150 members in Okongo, in the Ohangwena Region, became the latest beneficiaries of this scheme.

The Okongo Shack Dwellers Federation was established in 2006 and, to date, it has 528 members.

So far, the members have built 193 houses for low-income earners to live in decent homes, which in turn reduces the number of people living in shacks.