Nujoma’s 5 000-housing pledge: Details remain vague

The only visible housing development under Khomas governor Sam Nujoma's administration so far stems from existing National Housing Enterprise (NHE) programmes, some of which predate his appointment.During his first state of the region address (SORA) delivered on Friday, Nujoma said a handful of houses have been completed under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme for N$2.7 million, while 23 additional units are in the planning stage.“The National Housing Enterprise has completed 11 housing units under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme in the informal settlements of Goreangab and Greenwell,” he said.“Under the same programme, NHE plans to construct 23 housing units to the value of N$5.7 million.”In total, 244 housing units, comprising 231 for low-income earners and 13 for the low-middle-income segment, are reportedly in the pipeline at a projected cost of N$85.3 million.None, however, are part of the ambitious 5 000-unit housing pledge that the governor made upon taking office in March. In April, Nujoma announced that his office would spearhead the construction of 5 000 homes and the servicing of an equal number of plots within a year.“Our approach is driven by business not as usual, but rather by a shared commitment to our collective vision,” he told regional councillors and invited guests at the event.Details absent However, no houses have been delivered under this initiative to date, and no clear timeline was provided during the regional address for when work would begin.The limited figures cited, 11 units built and 23 planned, were described by observers as underwhelming and unrelated to the core pledge.Namibian Sun previously reported that the NHE constructed just over 18 000 houses in 31 years, an average of fewer than 600 per year.The national Mass Housing Project delivered fewer than 4 400 units over a decade, despite its billion-dollar budget.Ongoing upgradesDuring his address last week, Nujoma highlighted several infrastructure developments.These include the fencing of land at Farm 508, which is earmarked for future housing, school, and clinic construction, and the installation of bulk water supply infrastructure through partnerships with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and the Namibia Housing Action Group.“The fencing of plots which were acquired for the construction of a primary and secondary school and a clinic at Farm 508 is completed to the value of N$3 million,” the governor said.According to him, 142 new plots have been equipped with basic water infrastructure in areas such as Katutura and Greenwell Matongo. Meanwhile, 244 housing units mentioned in the address fall squarely within existing NHE programmes.Pressure in the regionWith a population of 494 605, Khomas is the most densely populated region in Namibia. A significant portion of its residents live in informal settlements, often without adequate shelter, water, or sanitation.The gap between demand and delivery continues to grow, with community leaders warning of rising frustration.Despite delays, the governor’s office maintains that housing delivery remains a top priority and that progress is underway behind the scenes. No updates were given, however, on land availability, serviced plots, or building tenders directly linked to the 5 000-home plan.

Nujoma’s 5 000-housing pledge: Details remain vague

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-21

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Nujoma’s 5 000-housing pledge: Details remain vague

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-21

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