Otji serious about housing
The Otjiwarongo municipality is of the view that decent housing will boost the development of the town and has found the PPPs are the way forward, with great success.
Following the handover of 40 brand new homes to proud owners at Otjiwarongo and the breaking of ground for 360 more affordable homes last week, the municipality emphasised that ensuring all residents have a home is a win-win for the town's development and overall success.
“Fulfilling the objective of availing serviced land for housing services, will have a direct impact on our communities' health and well-being and therefore also address a second strategic objective of creating a safe and hygienic environment in Otjiwarongo,” municipal spokesperson Adelheid Shilongo told Namibian Sun.
Shilongo was speaking shortly after the official handing over of the 40 houses in Freedom and Heroes parks, which were developed under public private partnerships (PPPs).
Minister of urban and rural development Sophia Shaningwa officiated at the event, emphasising that both Freedom and Heroes parks will eventually house more than 400 affordable homes.
The 40 houses were constructed through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement between the municipality and eight developers, who were each tasked with constructing five houses each in phase one.
A total of 436 plots have been serviced in Freedom and Heroes parks to date, the municipality confirmed last week, all through PPPs.
“We realised that combining public and private funding drives sustainable development because public resources alone will not get the job done.
“Therefore, collaborating with the private sector is the key to reducing poverty and generating economic growth for our town,” Shilongo emphasised.
Shaningwa said government provided around N$30 million for the servicing of the land for small business and residential purposes between 2014 and 2016 in the two areas.
In addition to the development of Freedom and Heroes parks, one of the PPP developers has started with the servicing of Extension 8, in Otjiwarongo town, with 245 plots.
Part of this development between the Otjiwarongo council and UUM Investment, is that the developers will tar the gravel road between Karundu Junior and Secondary schools and Extension 6 will be upgraded to bitumen standards, Shilongo added.
After that, the developer will continue with servicing of Extension 10 in Orwetoweni with 157 plots.
“The digging of trenches for sewers, electricity and water is at an advanced state,” Shilongo said.
Moreover, 45 plots have been reserved for the Build Together Programme in Freedom and Heroes parks.
Shilongo noted that the partnership with private developers has helped to ease the backlog of housing shortages and to provide service land “which will make a significant difference in the lives of our residents”.
The houses in Heroes and Freedom parks are priced at no more than half a million Namibian dollars and the basic price for a house without extras has been capped at between N$290 000 and N$409 000 per house.
Shaningwa praised the efforts by the municipality and said housing developments such as these not only contribute to eliminating the shortage of homes, but also have a “positive multiplier effect such as job creation during the construction periods as well as improved sanitation and security of tenure.”
Shilongo underlined that the town's commitment to back government's call to address the housing shortage in the country is linked to an understanding that a good home is good for the town.
“The construction of more houses will have a ripple effect on development throughout the town, improving the quality of life for all. We all need shelter to protect us from the elements of nature such as cold weather, strong winds and the sun. Constructing more houses is a step in the right to direction to realise our dream of providing shelter to the residents of Otjiwarongo.”
She said the municipality is aware that eliminating the housing shortage is not “an easy task, however, given a strong and steadfast political will and the support, it is not an impossible one.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
“Fulfilling the objective of availing serviced land for housing services, will have a direct impact on our communities' health and well-being and therefore also address a second strategic objective of creating a safe and hygienic environment in Otjiwarongo,” municipal spokesperson Adelheid Shilongo told Namibian Sun.
Shilongo was speaking shortly after the official handing over of the 40 houses in Freedom and Heroes parks, which were developed under public private partnerships (PPPs).
Minister of urban and rural development Sophia Shaningwa officiated at the event, emphasising that both Freedom and Heroes parks will eventually house more than 400 affordable homes.
The 40 houses were constructed through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement between the municipality and eight developers, who were each tasked with constructing five houses each in phase one.
A total of 436 plots have been serviced in Freedom and Heroes parks to date, the municipality confirmed last week, all through PPPs.
“We realised that combining public and private funding drives sustainable development because public resources alone will not get the job done.
“Therefore, collaborating with the private sector is the key to reducing poverty and generating economic growth for our town,” Shilongo emphasised.
Shaningwa said government provided around N$30 million for the servicing of the land for small business and residential purposes between 2014 and 2016 in the two areas.
In addition to the development of Freedom and Heroes parks, one of the PPP developers has started with the servicing of Extension 8, in Otjiwarongo town, with 245 plots.
Part of this development between the Otjiwarongo council and UUM Investment, is that the developers will tar the gravel road between Karundu Junior and Secondary schools and Extension 6 will be upgraded to bitumen standards, Shilongo added.
After that, the developer will continue with servicing of Extension 10 in Orwetoweni with 157 plots.
“The digging of trenches for sewers, electricity and water is at an advanced state,” Shilongo said.
Moreover, 45 plots have been reserved for the Build Together Programme in Freedom and Heroes parks.
Shilongo noted that the partnership with private developers has helped to ease the backlog of housing shortages and to provide service land “which will make a significant difference in the lives of our residents”.
The houses in Heroes and Freedom parks are priced at no more than half a million Namibian dollars and the basic price for a house without extras has been capped at between N$290 000 and N$409 000 per house.
Shaningwa praised the efforts by the municipality and said housing developments such as these not only contribute to eliminating the shortage of homes, but also have a “positive multiplier effect such as job creation during the construction periods as well as improved sanitation and security of tenure.”
Shilongo underlined that the town's commitment to back government's call to address the housing shortage in the country is linked to an understanding that a good home is good for the town.
“The construction of more houses will have a ripple effect on development throughout the town, improving the quality of life for all. We all need shelter to protect us from the elements of nature such as cold weather, strong winds and the sun. Constructing more houses is a step in the right to direction to realise our dream of providing shelter to the residents of Otjiwarongo.”
She said the municipality is aware that eliminating the housing shortage is not “an easy task, however, given a strong and steadfast political will and the support, it is not an impossible one.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
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