Government bans giving serviced land to developers

Government has ordered a stop to the allocation of taxpayer-funded serviced land to private developers, saying such land must instead benefit ordinary Namibians as part of broader efforts to address the country’s acute housing backlog.

Addressing residents and stakeholders in Windhoek’s informal settlement of Okahandja Park on Friday during a presidential housing visit, Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa underscored that land serviced by government funds should no longer be allocated directly to commercial developers, a move he says has historically driven up housing costs for low‑ and middle‑income families.



“This is where we stand as a ministry,” he said, explaining that serviced land allocated with public resources should support affordable housing solutions for teachers, police officers, small business owners and others priced out of the formal market.

His comments echo recent policy actions that reveal Sankwasa’s firm housing and land reform stance. 

Last week The Namibian reported that he ordered the Okahandja municipality to cancel plans to sell 101 residential plots valued at about N$11 million to private companies, arguing that such sales favour commercial profit over landless Namibians and should instead be advertised to individuals with genuine housing needs.

Furthermore, at a councillors’ induction workshop in Otjiwarongo, Sankwasa directed that serviced government land must no longer be allocated directly to private developers. 

He emphasised that land serviced with public funds should benefit ordinary citizens and that private developers wishing to operate commercially must first service their own land at market rates, a stance he argued is key to affordable housing delivery.

More than 600 000 Namibians are forced to live in informal settlements, representing a staggering 41.6% of the country’s urban population, according to the Namibia Informal Settlements Baseline Report released in July 2025.

The report, cited last week, identifies 606 000 people residing in improvised housing structures across 563 informal settlements nationwide.

It shows that only 144 of the 563 informal settlements have been formally proclaimed

More than 600 000 Namibians are forced to live in informal settlements, representing a staggering 41.6% of the country’s urban population, according to the Namibia Informal Settlements Baseline Report released in July 2025.

The report, cited last week, identifies 606 000 people residing in improvised housing structures across 563 informal settlements nationwide.

It shows that only 144 of the 563 informal settlements have been formally proclaimed

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