NHE to construct 200 houses at Oshakati
The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) announced they will construct 200 low-income houses at Oshakati in order to address the country's housing backlog.
The houses will be constructed at Ekuku Extension 6 through the NHE's public-private partnership (PPP) agreements with two companies. At yesterday's ground-breaking ceremony, urban and rural development minister, Sophia Shaningwa commended NHE's efforts in addressing the housing backlog, however, she stressed that contractors should ensure that the houses are of good quality and be affordable for those in need. Shaningwa shed light on the issue of Mass Housing homes still not occupied in certain towns saying market research was not done properly and as a result there are no clients for the houses.
She therefore warned the contractors not to set high prices for the homes saying they will end up having houses which are unoccupied and stand as 'white elephants'.
“Let me point out that affordable housing has become a daunting challenge in developing countries and Namibia is no exemption, especially taking into consideration that the majority of the population are not able to buy houses at the current market prices,” Shaningwa said.
“It is therefore important that when government creates an enabling environment such as we have in our country, the private sector should join the quest to house all the Namibians by constructing quality, but affordable, houses,” Shaningwa further said. She said she was informed that the houses to be constructed will not cost more than N$500 000, a good price in her view.
Shaningwa also used the opportunity to call upon the financial institutions to be more lenient in providing loans saying that the banks also have a role to play in ensuring Namibians are housed. Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa called upon local authorities to avail serviced land to NHE in order for the housing challenge to be addressed.
“I wish to urge all local authorities who are the custodians of the land upon which houses are constructed, to avail land to NHE at affordable rates so as to allow the housing institution to roll-out as many housing units as possible,” Kashuupulwa said.
According to NHE's chairperson, Sam Shivute, NHE will live up to its mandate which is to provide affordable houses for the people of the country.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The houses will be constructed at Ekuku Extension 6 through the NHE's public-private partnership (PPP) agreements with two companies. At yesterday's ground-breaking ceremony, urban and rural development minister, Sophia Shaningwa commended NHE's efforts in addressing the housing backlog, however, she stressed that contractors should ensure that the houses are of good quality and be affordable for those in need. Shaningwa shed light on the issue of Mass Housing homes still not occupied in certain towns saying market research was not done properly and as a result there are no clients for the houses.
She therefore warned the contractors not to set high prices for the homes saying they will end up having houses which are unoccupied and stand as 'white elephants'.
“Let me point out that affordable housing has become a daunting challenge in developing countries and Namibia is no exemption, especially taking into consideration that the majority of the population are not able to buy houses at the current market prices,” Shaningwa said.
“It is therefore important that when government creates an enabling environment such as we have in our country, the private sector should join the quest to house all the Namibians by constructing quality, but affordable, houses,” Shaningwa further said. She said she was informed that the houses to be constructed will not cost more than N$500 000, a good price in her view.
Shaningwa also used the opportunity to call upon the financial institutions to be more lenient in providing loans saying that the banks also have a role to play in ensuring Namibians are housed. Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa called upon local authorities to avail serviced land to NHE in order for the housing challenge to be addressed.
“I wish to urge all local authorities who are the custodians of the land upon which houses are constructed, to avail land to NHE at affordable rates so as to allow the housing institution to roll-out as many housing units as possible,” Kashuupulwa said.
According to NHE's chairperson, Sam Shivute, NHE will live up to its mandate which is to provide affordable houses for the people of the country.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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