Okongo homeowners still paying for empty homes

Okongo Village Council says infrastructure at Block 103 is complete, but homeowners who are paying FNB mortgages on houses they cannot occupy say the units remain unliveable, forcing them to pay rent elsewhere.

In a letter dated 16 September, council CEO Jackson Muma notified FNB and other stakeholders that road and electricity works had been completed and handed over to the council, with completion certificates issued.

“The road, electricity infrastructure works have been completed and officially handed over to the council. The requisite completion certificates for these components have also been issued, confirming satisfactory completion of the works,” he said.

Muma said the council is finalising pressure testing, after which a formal handover of the services was scheduled for 21-25 September.

"The completion of these essential municipal services significantly enhances the readiness and development potential of Block 103," he said.

Paying for unoccupied homes

The development follows a long-running dispute involving homeowners, FNB, the council and developer OLC Properties CC.

Homeowner Nicolas Richard told Namibian Sun last Thursday that although progress has been made, the houses are still far from ready to be lived in because they have not been electrified. He said homeowners continue to pay both their mortgages and rent.

Responding, Muma said: "They can start with finishes inside their houses. Connections to electricity, sewer and water won't take time."

The council is servicing 55 erven at Block 103 at a cost of N$5.6 million, funded by the urban and rural development ministry. The national development budget also lists the construction of electrical infrastructure for Block 103, Okongo Proper Phase 1, as a project running from 2024 to 2028.

Double trouble

In April 2025, Namibian Sun reported that at least nine homeowners were affected, with FNB deductions having started in December 2024 even though the houses were unoccupied for lack of services.

Richard said at the time that he was paying a N$5 750 monthly mortgage on a house he could not occupy, plus N$2 300 in rent elsewhere. Another homeowner, Costa Medusalem, said he was paying N$7 250 towards his mortgage and N$2 000 in rent.

The houses were built in 2023 in Block 103, but residents said the area lacked water and electricity, among other services.

FNB previously said the matter stemmed from a dispute between OLC Properties and the council over the provision of municipal services. The bank also confirmed that mortgage deductions were continuing although the homeowners had not moved in.

In 2025, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa visited Okongo and expressed dissatisfaction with the situation.