Ministry explains missed Swapo mass housing deadline
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has confirmed that the Swapo Party’s manifesto promise to complete and hand over all houses under the Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP) by December 2025 was not met due to a range of legal, technical and planning challenges.
The commitment was contained in the Swapo 2025–2030 manifesto implementation plan, which pledged that all outstanding MHDP houses would be completed by the end of last year.
Executive director in the ministry, Dr Wilhelmine Shivute, told Namibian Sun that while 4 826 housing units have been completed and handed over nationwide since the programme’s inception in 2013, a remaining 572 houses — located in Opuwo, Swakopmund and Windhoek — are yet to be finalised.
“The delay in completing the remaining commenced-but-not-completed houses by the set date of November 2025 is regrettable,” Shivute said. “However, several factors beyond the ministry’s control contributed to this outcome.”
Opuwo project
In Opuwo, 24 houses under Betonstein Construction CC were delayed by a legal dispute that stalled progress.
“The legal dispute that delayed the completion of the 24 houses in Opuwo was resolved, and the procurement of a contractor was concluded during the 2024/2025 financial year,” Shivute explained. “The site was handed over to the contractor in May 2025 for a 12-month contract period.”
She said that while efforts were made to meet the November 2025 target, the extent of outstanding work made this impossible. The project is now expected to be completed in February 2026, ahead of its contractual deadline of April 2026.
Swakopmund
In Swakopmund, the completion of 186 houses under Desert Paving and Construction CC was delayed by prolonged legal disputes and negotiations.
“The resumption of work to complete the remaining 186 houses in Swakopmund was delayed due to legal disputes and negotiations, which were only resolved late last year,” Shivute said. “The government is currently finalising the contract for signature to allow the resumption of works.”
Windhoek
The Otjomuise Extension 10 project in Windhoek, comprising 362 houses, faced the most severe challenges. Shivute said the township was initially planned for low-density, single-residential housing, but later changes introduced high-rise apartments and mixed housing types, resulting in densification beyond approved municipal service capacity.
“This necessitated the re-planning of the township layout to accommodate the higher density,” she said. “The proposed densified development also required the re-alignment of bulk municipal services and, in some cases, the installation of additional infrastructure.”
To accelerate delivery, provisional approval was granted for construction to proceed while re-planning continued. However, the absence of approved bulk services drawings — due to the pending township proclamation — meant houses reached structural completion without connections to sewer, water or electricity.
“Without these service connections, the houses are not fit for occupation,” Shivute acknowledged.
She added that the ministry terminated the contract with CalgroKuumBa Planning and Design (Pty) Ltd in December 2025 after repeated failures to meet deadlines, despite an extension granted until November 2025. Namibia Welding Building and Civil Works CC has since been appointed to complete the remaining works.
Commitment reiterated
Despite the setbacks, Shivute said the ministry remains committed to completing the outstanding projects.
“It is acknowledged that the implementation of this project has encountered several challenges compared to other MHDP projects in other local authorities, most of which have since been completed and occupied,” she said. “Nevertheless, all parties involved have continued to work diligently to address the outstanding issues.”
“The government, together with all relevant stakeholders, is doing everything possible to expedite the remaining processes to enable the project to reach practical completion and ensure that the houses are ready for occupation in the shortest possible time,” she added.
Legal correspondence
In a letter dated 8 December 2025 and seen by Namibian Sun, urban development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa wrote to attorney general Festus Mbandeka, seeking finalisation and approval of a draft settlement agreement and schedule of conditions between the ministry and Desert Paving & Construction CC.
The correspondence, addressed to government attorneys Janseline Gawiises and Matiti Asino, refers specifically to the long-stalled Swakopmund MHDP project involving the 186 incomplete houses.
According to the letter, the ministry had perused the draft agreement and was ready in principle to sign, subject to the finalisation of the schedule of conditions by the ministry of works and transport through its principal agent, Richard Frankle and Partners Quantity Surveyors.
“In light of the above, we are attaching herewith a bid document for presentation to Messrs Desert Paving & Construction CC for formalisation of the bid through the direct procurement method in terms of the Public Procurement Act, 2015, as amended,” the letter states.
When approached for comment on the missed manifesto deadline, Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga declined to comment.
The commitment was contained in the Swapo 2025–2030 manifesto implementation plan, which pledged that all outstanding MHDP houses would be completed by the end of last year.
Executive director in the ministry, Dr Wilhelmine Shivute, told Namibian Sun that while 4 826 housing units have been completed and handed over nationwide since the programme’s inception in 2013, a remaining 572 houses — located in Opuwo, Swakopmund and Windhoek — are yet to be finalised.
“The delay in completing the remaining commenced-but-not-completed houses by the set date of November 2025 is regrettable,” Shivute said. “However, several factors beyond the ministry’s control contributed to this outcome.”
Opuwo project
In Opuwo, 24 houses under Betonstein Construction CC were delayed by a legal dispute that stalled progress.
“The legal dispute that delayed the completion of the 24 houses in Opuwo was resolved, and the procurement of a contractor was concluded during the 2024/2025 financial year,” Shivute explained. “The site was handed over to the contractor in May 2025 for a 12-month contract period.”
She said that while efforts were made to meet the November 2025 target, the extent of outstanding work made this impossible. The project is now expected to be completed in February 2026, ahead of its contractual deadline of April 2026.
Swakopmund
In Swakopmund, the completion of 186 houses under Desert Paving and Construction CC was delayed by prolonged legal disputes and negotiations.
“The resumption of work to complete the remaining 186 houses in Swakopmund was delayed due to legal disputes and negotiations, which were only resolved late last year,” Shivute said. “The government is currently finalising the contract for signature to allow the resumption of works.”
Windhoek
The Otjomuise Extension 10 project in Windhoek, comprising 362 houses, faced the most severe challenges. Shivute said the township was initially planned for low-density, single-residential housing, but later changes introduced high-rise apartments and mixed housing types, resulting in densification beyond approved municipal service capacity.
“This necessitated the re-planning of the township layout to accommodate the higher density,” she said. “The proposed densified development also required the re-alignment of bulk municipal services and, in some cases, the installation of additional infrastructure.”
To accelerate delivery, provisional approval was granted for construction to proceed while re-planning continued. However, the absence of approved bulk services drawings — due to the pending township proclamation — meant houses reached structural completion without connections to sewer, water or electricity.
“Without these service connections, the houses are not fit for occupation,” Shivute acknowledged.
She added that the ministry terminated the contract with CalgroKuumBa Planning and Design (Pty) Ltd in December 2025 after repeated failures to meet deadlines, despite an extension granted until November 2025. Namibia Welding Building and Civil Works CC has since been appointed to complete the remaining works.
Commitment reiterated
Despite the setbacks, Shivute said the ministry remains committed to completing the outstanding projects.
“It is acknowledged that the implementation of this project has encountered several challenges compared to other MHDP projects in other local authorities, most of which have since been completed and occupied,” she said. “Nevertheless, all parties involved have continued to work diligently to address the outstanding issues.”
“The government, together with all relevant stakeholders, is doing everything possible to expedite the remaining processes to enable the project to reach practical completion and ensure that the houses are ready for occupation in the shortest possible time,” she added.
Legal correspondence
In a letter dated 8 December 2025 and seen by Namibian Sun, urban development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa wrote to attorney general Festus Mbandeka, seeking finalisation and approval of a draft settlement agreement and schedule of conditions between the ministry and Desert Paving & Construction CC.
The correspondence, addressed to government attorneys Janseline Gawiises and Matiti Asino, refers specifically to the long-stalled Swakopmund MHDP project involving the 186 incomplete houses.
According to the letter, the ministry had perused the draft agreement and was ready in principle to sign, subject to the finalisation of the schedule of conditions by the ministry of works and transport through its principal agent, Richard Frankle and Partners Quantity Surveyors.
“In light of the above, we are attaching herewith a bid document for presentation to Messrs Desert Paving & Construction CC for formalisation of the bid through the direct procurement method in terms of the Public Procurement Act, 2015, as amended,” the letter states.
When approached for comment on the missed manifesto deadline, Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga declined to comment.
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