Where are the houses?
The implementation of the Mass Housing programme is proving to be a shameful affair. So far, about 3 500 houses have been constructed under this programme since it was launched by former President Hifikepunye Pohamba to build 185 000 houses by 2030. Many promises were made during the inauguration of the programme, including the announcement that government would built 8 800 housing units in the first phase. This programme has since been put on ice after unsubstantiated allegations were levelled against the previous National Housing Enterprise (NHE) regime headed by Vinson Hailulu.
This newspaper reported that the minister of urban and rural development is allegedly trying to “save face” after an abrupt stop was put to the Mass Housing project following a submission to Cabinet justifying the stoppage of the project, presumably as an attempt to “stop the bleeding”. As we pen this editorial the running of this project is now in the hands of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. The very same ministry has also taken over some of the administrative functions of the NHE as far as the Mass Housing programme is concerned.
Government is there is to initiate policy and it is important that they leave the job of administering its policies to focused bureaucrats who have the expertise. No wonder government is struggling to sell some of the social and credit-linked houses built under the programme.
Namibia is a country grappling with a housing crisis of epic proportions and the housing backlog stands at over 100 000 units.
The poor and middle-class still can't afford a place to call home. Yes, we will be the first to admit that the Mass Housing programme was not well thought through from the beginning. It looked like an election ploy to many of us. However, the authorities have a moral obligation to deliver on the promise of housing and this should not be politicised by personal agendas in the execution of this important mandate.
NHE has a new CEO and a new board yet one wonders if their mandate is really to deliver houses to the needy or merely to dig out the dirt of the previous regime.
This newspaper reported that the minister of urban and rural development is allegedly trying to “save face” after an abrupt stop was put to the Mass Housing project following a submission to Cabinet justifying the stoppage of the project, presumably as an attempt to “stop the bleeding”. As we pen this editorial the running of this project is now in the hands of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. The very same ministry has also taken over some of the administrative functions of the NHE as far as the Mass Housing programme is concerned.
Government is there is to initiate policy and it is important that they leave the job of administering its policies to focused bureaucrats who have the expertise. No wonder government is struggling to sell some of the social and credit-linked houses built under the programme.
Namibia is a country grappling with a housing crisis of epic proportions and the housing backlog stands at over 100 000 units.
The poor and middle-class still can't afford a place to call home. Yes, we will be the first to admit that the Mass Housing programme was not well thought through from the beginning. It looked like an election ploy to many of us. However, the authorities have a moral obligation to deliver on the promise of housing and this should not be politicised by personal agendas in the execution of this important mandate.
NHE has a new CEO and a new board yet one wonders if their mandate is really to deliver houses to the needy or merely to dig out the dirt of the previous regime.
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Namibian Sun
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