Patience of the people running out - Kazapua

Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua says the patience of Namibians is running out when it comes to land delivery.

Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday in Windhoek's Rocky Crest suburb, Kazapua cautioned developers that the next agreement he signs must be to service land in informal settlements.

“As we know, the demand for serviced land and housing in Windhoek is overwhelming - a reality which rendered council unable to meet this demand alone.

“The patience of the people is running out, they need houses; we have to fast-track these agreements. The next public-private partnership (PPP) that will be approved must be for the servicing of land in the informal settlements.

“We cannot run this city if we cannot balance the need. The people there in Havana, Goreangab… the kapana sellers, the domestic workers, they have money to pay for services. And we must focus on affordability,” he said.

Kazapua said the constructed houses should not be too expensive for Namibians to afford, as the City would then have to relook at its agreements with developers.

In Rocky Crest, the City joined hands with partners to service land and construct 231 new houses in Extension 4, as well as business and other erven.

The project was made possible by financial contributions from the Government Institution Pension Fund (GIPF) and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).

The other partner is Otweya Land Developers, while GIPF is represented through one of its equity fund administrators, Ino Harith Capital.

DBN has invested N$108 million while GIPF, through Ino Harith Capital, has given the remaining N$26.8 million.

Ino Harith Capital managing director Fillemon Iyambo said there is plenty of money in the market for investment, but investors shy away because of bureaucracy.

According to him government must urgently smooth the process for investors to put their money into local projects.

“This bureaucracy delays the implementation of projects and especially if a project for low-cost housing is delayed with even a single day it can have economic implications,” said Iyambo.

Meanwhile, Windhoek Construction Engineers (WCE) civil engineer Ndapewa Paulus said Rocky Crest Extension 4 consists of the development of 37 hectares of land, and once completed the 280 plots which will include 231 single residential homes, 18 business and two institutional erven.

According to her 1 322 new housing opportunities, ranging from single residential to general residential plots, will be created through various phases of the development.

Namibia Construction was appointed as the contractor on 26 March and the expected completion date for phase 1 of the project is slated for February 2019, while the construction of the houses is expected to be completed by June 2020.

“Currently the contractor has been on site for two months we are happy to report that he is on schedule. WCE together with Harambee Project Solutions is currently busy with the design of the first 256 general residential units. The construction of it will start as soon as phase 1 servicing has been completed. We aim to have the first units completed by November 2019,” she said.