Namibia's growing urban population continues to place pressure on the country's housing sector, with coastal towns, particularly Walvis Bay, facing high demand for serviced land and affordable housing.
This was highlighted by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, during the official opening of the PAM Tree Development in Kuisebmond Extension 16, Walvis Bay.
Sankwasa said private-sector investment is crucial to complement government efforts to address the housing backlog, particularly as more people move to urban areas.
He said public-private partnerships allow the government, local authorities and private developers to combine resources to accelerate land servicing and housing delivery.
The Kuisebmond Extension 16 development comprises 219 erven, including 205 single-residential plots.
Twenty fully serviced erven will be donated to the Walvis Bay Municipality as part of the developer's social responsibility commitment.
Phase One, consisting of 79 houses, has already been sold out, highlighting the strong demand for housing in the coastal town.
Sankwasa said the project also demonstrates how private investment can create opportunities for local contractors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and young entrepreneurs.
His speech was delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele,
"I'm calling upon the Walvis Bay Municipality to embrace and actively support credible housing initiatives of this nature. Please, let's not use unnecessary bureaucracy in our offices. Our local authorities should not delay progress. People are yearning for houses; people are in dire need of housing. So, with this bureaucracy, we are delaying progress, and we need to accelerate the housing provision that we have promised our people, and we can deliver."
For first-time homeowners Gabriel Gabriel and Aysha Mtopa, finding a house in Walvis Bay has not been easy.
"As you can see, countrywide, people are suffering to get houses. I'm just happy that the project made this possible. That's all I can say."
"I am very, very happy. I am a very happy client to be moving into my house. It's a great honour because it is very difficult to find proper housing in this town, while there is a housing backlog. So, I am very, very happy to be an owner of my own house."