Omungwelume Woman Builds N$250,000 Home Through Saving and Small-Scale Trading
Maria Kashile, a resident of Omungwelume settlement in the Ohangwena Region, has demonstrated how determination, disciplined saving and small-scale trading can help people without formal employment achieve the dream of owning a home.
Kashile recently showcased her house to the Ohangwena Regional Governor, Hon. Kadiva Hamutumwa, explaining how she gradually built the house over the years with support from the Shack Dwellers Association and her own efforts.
She said the Shack Dwellers Association allocated her a plot in 2015, after which she took responsibility for constructing her home.
Kashile estimates that the house has cost her approximately N$250,000.
Although she is not formally employed, Kashile said she earns an income through small-scale trading, including selling table charms and a traditional oil known as (odjove).
She said she has used the income from these activities to support the construction of her house.
“All those years I wasn’t just eating up my money, but I have been saving because I wanted to have my own house, in order to come out of renting,” Kashile said.
After receiving her plot, she began construction gradually, starting with the foundation.
Kashile said she opened a savings account at Build It and used her savings to purchase construction materials as funds became available.
“I started with the foundation,I saved at BuildIt and started building with small breaks in order to have a strong foundation,” she explained.
She said one of the lessons she learned during the construction process was the importance of planning her expenses carefully.
Kashile recalled that she initially purchased metal door frames from BH Hardware at approximately N$99 each. However, she later decided that she wanted a more modern design and sold the metal frames.
She then approached a company specialising in the manufacture of windows and doors and obtained a quotation of approximately N$26,650.
Rather than paying the full amount at once, Kashile said she paid in instalments until the work was completed.
According to her, she paid approximately 75 percent, amounting to N$20,650, before the installation was completed.
She was left with an outstanding balance of N$5,900, which she paid after the work was finished.
Kashile said building the house was not an easy process because she had to work with the money available to her and sometimes take breaks from construction.
However, she remained committed to the project because owning her own home was a long-standing goal.
Her journey reflects the challenges faced by many people who depend on informal economic activities for their livelihoods, while also showing how gradual saving can contribute to long-term goals such as homeownership.
The house, which Kashile started building in 2015, now stands as a result of years of saving, personal effort and assistance from the Shack Dwellers Association.
While showcasing the house to Governor Hamutumwa, Kashile shared the different stages of her journey, from receiving the plot and laying the foundation to purchasing and installing the doors and windows.
For Kashile, the home represents more than just a building. It is the result of years of determination and financial discipline, driven by her desire to move away from renting and have a place she can call her own.
