Sankwasa urges local authorities to release land for housing
Encourages use of innovative construction methods
Some local authorities already have more than 2 000 serviced plots that remain undeveloped due to a lack of funding.
Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has called on local authorities to urgently make serviced land available for housing development, warning that expensive land and slow implementation are driving up the cost of houses and worsening the housing shortage.
He said this during a handover of a demonstration house built using alternative building materials by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia in partnership with Alternative Building Technology (ABT) on Friday, 6 February.
Sankwasa said the use of innovative construction methods reduces both building time and costs, making housing more affordable for low-income earners. He added that the shorter construction period and cheaper materials significantly lower selling prices, allowing more citizens to access decent accommodation.
He noted that some local authorities already have more than 2 000 serviced plots that remain undeveloped due to a lack of funding, and called on municipalities to release this land to development partners. He stressed that land should not be sold at exorbitant prices, as this only makes houses more expensive, adding that land is a “God-given asset”.
The minister said the government continues to support organisations involved in affordable housing through annual budgetary allocations, as their work directly improves living standards. He added that alternative building technologies can also be used to construct schools and clinics in rural areas at lower cost, supporting broader rural development.
Essential, not optional
He emphasised that innovation in housing is no longer optional but essential, as traditional construction methods are too slow to keep up with the growing demand. According to the minister, the current approach can deliver houses in a matter of days, helping to address the widening gap between housing supply and population growth.
Tobias Hainyeko Constituency Councillor Christopher Likuwa welcomed the project and encouraged residents to join the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia to gain access to stronger housing structures and move away from living in shacks.
ABT director Medusalem Shilongo said the company is 80 per cent Namibian-owned and aims to assist the government in delivering affordable, quality housing within the shortest possible time. He thanked the Shack Dwellers Federation for identifying the beneficiary of the demonstration house.
While the foundation of this home was laid in December, the actual construction took only two days. ABT did not want to comment on the total price.
Christine Kanguvi, daughter of the late Constansia Kanguvi, who was identified by the Shack Dwellers Federation as the beneficiary, expressed her gratitude for the new house, saying that her mother passed away during the construction process.
No other ABT houses are currently being constructed in Namibia; however, planning is underway to continue with the initiative. - [email protected]
