Hundred more houses handed over
The City of Windhoek, together with its partners under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Affordable Housing Pilot Project (ISUHPP), handed over 100 affordable houses to beneficiaries in Windhoek’s informal settlements.The ISUHPP project is an initiative of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the City of Windhoek, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), and the Khomas Regional Council.
Speaking at the event at Freedomland in Okuryangava, minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, called on project partners to redouble their efforts and work in unison to provide affordable housing to the residents of Windhoek.
He said that a total of 600 houses are targeted under the first phase of the project.
“I believe that the community is central to the success of any development initiative. I wish to thank those members of the public who have already signed up for the project, and call on and encourage others in Windhoek to come on board. In particular, I wish to encourage members of the community who live in the areas that have been identified for the implementation of this project, to cooperate with officials from the municipality and NHE in finalising the registration and documentation processes that are necessary for the start and completion of the construction process.”
At the same event, Windhoek Mayor Sade Gawanas thanked project partners and residents for their cooperation in implementing the project. “So far, over 400 affordable houses have been constructed under this project since August 2020 in various informal settlements, namely Havana Proper, Havana Extension 1, Onyika No. 2, Goreangab Extension 4, Greenwell Matongo, Otjomuise Extension 8 and 9 and Freedom Land A and B.”
She added that a further 40 houses are currently under construction and that the number of completed houses increases on a weekly basis.
“Addressing housing affordability is the most cost-effective way of lifting people out of poverty and increasing economic mobility,” Gawanas said. “The need for affordable housing is imperative, especially for families who can hardly afford to shelter and a roof over their heads. Having affordable housing developments in neighbourhoods not only positively impacts the surrounding communities, but also reflects our effort in restoring dignity for our people.”
One of the project beneficiaries, Michael Nghishiti, thanked the partners for taking them out of shacks into formal housing.
A one-bedroom house under this project costs N$155 000 including land, while a two-bedroom house costs N$196 000 including land. The houses can be paid off over a period of up to 25 years.
Both types of houses come with solar geysers and a plan for future expansion of up to three bedrooms.
The project targets residents with an income of less than N$10 000 per month.
Interested residents living in targeted informal settlements can contact Ogone Thataone (COW) 061 – 290 3417/2026 or Tjitemisa Virginia (NHE) 061 276122.