President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) and the National Planning Commission (NPC) to prioritise initiatives by youth entrepreneurs which seek to tackle Namibia's housing backlog.
Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah says innovative and more affordable building materials could play a key role in eliminating informal settlements.
The directive comes as representatives of Alternative Building Technology Panels Namibia are promoting the use of fibre-cement sandwich panels – a construction material they say can last more than 50 years.
Entrepreneurs Enzo Amuele and Medusalem Shilongo recently demonstrated the technology by building a one-bedroom house with a bathroom, kitchen and living room in Windhoek's Okahandja Park informal settlement.
The structure was completed in less than five days.
The house was showcased during a visit by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa, and the Director-General of the National Planning Commission.
Shilongo says the initiative was inspired by the government's focus on housing, land and sanitation under the eighth administration.
"We looked at the priorities of the new administration, especially housing, land and sanitation, and asked ourselves how we as young entrepreneurs could contribute solutions. Through research we discovered alternative housing technologies used in South Africa and Botswana. After engaging with the owners of the technology, we decided to bring it to Namibia to help address the housing demand."
President Nandi-Ndaitwah commended the initiative as a demonstration to how citizens can respond to national development priorities.
"These young entrepreneurs have responded directly to the call for solutions. We must give them space to continue with this technology because it offers affordable housing options for our communities."
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa revealed that discussions are already underway to support local production of the materials.
More than eight young Namibians have already been trained to construct houses using the technology.
The demonstration house was built by Alternative Building Technology Panels Namibia in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation.