VP concerned about unused mass houses at Swakop
Hundreds of houses standing empty
While a court case over an abandoned housing project drags on, people at Swakopmund live in shacks and the half-built houses stand empty.
Vice President Nangolo Mbumba on Thursday visited the mass housing site at Swakopmund where hundreds of houses have been left in various states of construction for years due to court battles involving the contractors.
Mbumba was accompanied by Erongo governor Neville Andre, Swakopmund constituency councillor Ciske Howard-Smith and Swakopmund CEO Alfeus Benjamin while he inspected the site consisting of foundations, half-built houses and finished (but dilapidated and vandalised) houses.
Although he did not speak directly to the media, he did indicate that it was a concern that the houses were left in this state while there was an urgent need for housing at the town. He also understood that the court must take its course but suggested that he would take the matter to the executive level.
Howard-Smith said while the court case drags on, at the end of day the people suffer because there are no houses for them.
“They live right here in shacks and they look into these houses every day, and pass here on foot, and see houses standing here, and when they ask why they can’t move in, people just pull up their shoulders and say nothing can be done. It’s a terrible situation,” she said.
“We have to look at better ways to serve the people than to allow issues to keep dragging on for so long,” said Howard-Smith.
Benjamin also hoped the case could be resolved soon because some of the houses are ready for occupation.
He said the Swakopmund municipality has plans to make the houses available as is, and allow the new owners to reconstruct them.
“This project is very important because 22 000 people in Swakopmund are on the master list for housing. Here are hundreds and the municipality is busy constructing 1 300 more,” he said.
“We hope the vice president will take the matter up and it can be addressed at national executive level as soon as possible.”
Court cases involve contractors who apparently did not pay the subcontractors, resulting in a work stoppage.
The mass housing project was the brainchild of former president Hifikepunye Pohamba to address the country's critical housing crisis, with a promise to build 148 000 houses by 2030.
Since the programme was inaugurated in 2013, very few houses have been built and are at different stages of completion in the various local authorities and regions.
Mbumba was accompanied by Erongo governor Neville Andre, Swakopmund constituency councillor Ciske Howard-Smith and Swakopmund CEO Alfeus Benjamin while he inspected the site consisting of foundations, half-built houses and finished (but dilapidated and vandalised) houses.
Although he did not speak directly to the media, he did indicate that it was a concern that the houses were left in this state while there was an urgent need for housing at the town. He also understood that the court must take its course but suggested that he would take the matter to the executive level.
Howard-Smith said while the court case drags on, at the end of day the people suffer because there are no houses for them.
“They live right here in shacks and they look into these houses every day, and pass here on foot, and see houses standing here, and when they ask why they can’t move in, people just pull up their shoulders and say nothing can be done. It’s a terrible situation,” she said.
“We have to look at better ways to serve the people than to allow issues to keep dragging on for so long,” said Howard-Smith.
Benjamin also hoped the case could be resolved soon because some of the houses are ready for occupation.
He said the Swakopmund municipality has plans to make the houses available as is, and allow the new owners to reconstruct them.
“This project is very important because 22 000 people in Swakopmund are on the master list for housing. Here are hundreds and the municipality is busy constructing 1 300 more,” he said.
“We hope the vice president will take the matter up and it can be addressed at national executive level as soon as possible.”
Court cases involve contractors who apparently did not pay the subcontractors, resulting in a work stoppage.
The mass housing project was the brainchild of former president Hifikepunye Pohamba to address the country's critical housing crisis, with a promise to build 148 000 houses by 2030.
Since the programme was inaugurated in 2013, very few houses have been built and are at different stages of completion in the various local authorities and regions.
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