Mass Housing contractors await payment
Mass Housing contractors await payment

Mass Housing contractors await payment

Subcontractors and their employees working as painters and builders at Mass Housing projects countrywide have not been paid the money due to them. Alvin Naidoo, the owner of 7Sirs Construction Company which is building houses at Walvis Bay on behalf of the Namibian Housing Enterprise (NHE), said he had no idea where the delay was and what caused it. “All Mass Housing contractors throughout Namibia have not received payment. The issue is not only confined to Walvis Bay. I spoke to John Mugaviri, the chief financial officer of the NHE, on Monday and he gave me the assurance that the money would be released by Tuesday the latest. I am sure that things will work out for the best as they will have to pay us at some time,” said Naidoo. When approached for an explanation, Mugaviri told Namibian Sun that he was not at liberty to disclose the NHE’s contractual obligations. “The Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development might be able to provide you with answers,” he said. The Walvis Bay subcontractors called on the government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the NHE pays them on time. They also called on the NHE to ensure payments are made on time and threatened to institute legal action should the problem persist. “The situation is unacceptable. Government must lead by example and the involved companies must respect the dignity of workers,” they said. According to subcontractors the last payment they received was at the end of October and 7Sirs promised that they would receive what’s due to them on December 12. This has not happened. Naidoo explained telephonically to the subcontractors and their workers who converged at the site in Kuisebmond on Friday that the delay was caused by the ministry that had not paid the NHE. “I am doing my best to ensure that the subcontractors receive their money. I was supposed to leave for South Africa but will not do so until the outstanding payments are made. All the contractors are in the same position since NHE paid nobody. I produce work and hope that I get paid,” he said. Sakkie Hailongo, the owners of Sakkie Painters, said he is owed N$63 000 for the painting of more than 20 houses. “My ten workers are stranded and suffering. Some of them wanted to leave to their homes in the North for the festive season and could not do so because I am not able to give them their salaries. “Many workers left without being paid. I have not received payment from 7Sirs and my crew is now accusing me of stealing their money,” he said. George Gindongo, the owner of George Painters, concurred with Hailongo and said he was waiting for N$28 000 due to him. Reinhold Shipikwenene of Shipikwenene Investments, who employs 12 painters, said his workers could not pay their rent and might be evicted. “They have also not been able to settle their debts because of the prevailing situation. Since we started rendering services payments have always been late but it is the first time that we have been made to wait for such a long period. We are worried because 7Sirs closed on December 12 for the festive break. NHE will do the same and will leave us stranded,” said Shipikwenene. OTIS FINCK WALVIS BAY

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-24

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