EDITORIAL
The housing crisis that continues to haunt Namibia will continue unabated if structural and systemic shortcomings are not tackled.
At present, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) - which has over the years failed to effectively carry out its mandate - is nowhere in the mainstream housing agenda of the country. It has technically been rendered irrelevant.
This is evident in recent public-private deals entered into between government and private entities to build housing projects without considering NHE.
The recently leaked letter wrote by NHE managers to the authorities also paints the picture of an institution that finds itself in rather precarious position.
In that letter, the managers claim NHE struggles to get land from local authorities who would rather do business with private entities. This speaks to a fragmented governance system in which processes are not complimentary. NHE should, however, also not expect to be treated with kid gloves; it must earn what comes its way.
The very same managers complaining that there is poor governance at NHE are the ones paid millions to provide solutions to the country’s housing crisis. It would seem they are not fit to do that and now want to abdicate their responsibility by crying crocodile tears.
The trend of passing the buck in the public sector must be addressed if we are to provide decent shelter to our people.
At present, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) - which has over the years failed to effectively carry out its mandate - is nowhere in the mainstream housing agenda of the country. It has technically been rendered irrelevant.
This is evident in recent public-private deals entered into between government and private entities to build housing projects without considering NHE.
The recently leaked letter wrote by NHE managers to the authorities also paints the picture of an institution that finds itself in rather precarious position.
In that letter, the managers claim NHE struggles to get land from local authorities who would rather do business with private entities. This speaks to a fragmented governance system in which processes are not complimentary. NHE should, however, also not expect to be treated with kid gloves; it must earn what comes its way.
The very same managers complaining that there is poor governance at NHE are the ones paid millions to provide solutions to the country’s housing crisis. It would seem they are not fit to do that and now want to abdicate their responsibility by crying crocodile tears.
The trend of passing the buck in the public sector must be addressed if we are to provide decent shelter to our people.
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Namibian Sun
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