The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has called on all stakeholders in the housing sector to support the national goal of delivering 10,000 housing units during the current financial year, as outlined by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Speaking at the official handover of 55 newly completed homes and the groundbreaking ceremony for an additional 65 units under the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) project in Okongo, Ohangwena Region, Sankwasa emphasized the importance of collective action to address housing needs.
The SDFN initiative is part of a public-private partnership involving the Government, SDFN, Standard Bank’s Buy-a-Brick campaign, Ohorongo Cement, Build It Okongo, FNB Namibia, Kambwa Trading, and the Pupkewitz Foundation.
Minister Sankwasa commended the Buy-a-Brick campaign, launched in 2015, for its vital role in supporting national housing development.
“The Federation has indicated a plan to construct over 3,100 houses this year. When you consider that figure against our target of 10,000, it’s clear that we’re making meaningful progress,” he said. “We must applaud this effort. Achieving this target will require contributions from all partners, taking on the task piece by piece until the full goal is met.”
Sankwasa also expressed concern over delays in land allocation, particularly singling out Eenhana for reportedly failing to release land for housing developments.
“We must take urgent action to address these roadblocks. Promises of development made during election campaigns must be honoured, or they risk becoming empty words. I urge the Governor to follow up on this matter seriously,” he added.
Standard Bank’s Head of Marketing, Magreth Mengo, highlighted the impact of the Buy-a-Brick initiative, which enables individuals and companies to contribute to housing development by donating the equivalent cost of a single brick.
“What began as a simple concept has transformed lives hundreds of homes have been built, communities uplifted, and dignity restored for many living in informal settlements,” Mengo noted.
Ohorongo Cement CEO, Hans Willem Schütte, expressed appreciation to the Okongo Village Council for providing land for both the completed and upcoming housing units.
“By working together, we can bring real value to communities and help move people from informal dwellings into secure, stable homes, turning our collective vision into a reality,” Schütte said.
