38 new houses to be constructed at Arandis

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) held a ground breaking ceremony for 38 new houses at Arandis yesterday.

The project promises dignified housing for families who have long awaited the opportunity to possess their own homes, said deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele.

“This project is a groundbreaking step forward in tackling the housing crisis in our community.

It embodies our unwavering commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable and dignified housing – vital for those who have long faced the challenge of finding a place to truly call home.”

Of the 38 houses to be constructed, 14 are funded by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, 17 by First National Bank and the remaining seven houses through repayments by members of the SDFN.

Since its inception in 2000, the SDFN has constructed more than 8 600 houses countrywide.

“Government support has been crucial in building over 3 550 houses,” Nawases-Taeyele said.

Trefeni Mukete, a member of the SDFN’s Arandis network, shared that they started saving on 12 August 2007 for the initiative, and described it as a “dream come true”.

Currently, the Arandis network comprises 168 members, of which 130 are landless, and 38 will now start building.

Mukete emphasised the community’s resilience, noting that SDFN is not merely an organisation, but a “people’s movement” uniting groups across the country to work towards the common goal of home ownership.

“We have saved N$42.5 million, with 31 650 members countrywide, and in the Erongo region alone, we have 6 775 members who have saved N$14.8 million. To date, 765 houses have been built across Omaruru, Karibib, Usakos, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Walvis Bay,” Mukete said.

“We are proud to announce that this scheme has attracted many men and women, more than in previous years.”

Arandis mayor Risto Kapenda said it was a challenging journey, which began with the allocation of unserviced land to the SFDN, and with the council stepping in to allocate its 2022/2023 capital budget of N$440 000 to the federation, to enable the servicing of the land.

Kapenda highlighted the town council’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis.

“It is the council’s dream to ensure that our residents are all inhabitants of decent, affordable housing,” he said, stressing that the council prioritises the safety and dignity of its people, viewing programmes such as the flexible land tenure system and the SFDN as crucial.

“Today, you have changed the lives of the beneficiaries for the greater good, and we immensely appreciate your collaboration and support.”