Namibia: N$300m Left to Tackle Namibia's Housing Crisis
Namibia's Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is struggling with a housing crisis, with only N$300 million available to address the needs of 59 local authorities. The government aims to significantly reduce the number of informal settlements by 2030 despite budget constraints and high construction costs.
Why it matters
This highlights the severe socio-economic challenges of rapid urbanization and the struggle to provide affordable housing in developing nations.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development says about N$300 million remains available for housing construction, but the funds must be shared among 59 local authorities amid growing demand for serviced land and housing.
The ministry's deputy director of housing development, Kornelius Taseb, told the National Assembly standing committee on urban and rural development and land reform last Wednesday that budget constraints were limiting the government's ability to respond to the housing crisis.
The committee held oversight visits at informal settlements in the Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi and Otjozondjupa regions.
"Budget constraints remain an issue and I do not know how far we can go," Taseb said, adding that housing finance is also limited because there are not enough funds.
He said mushrooming informal settlements are among the technical challenges facing the ministry, but proactive planning could help address the problem.
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