Saamstaan restores pride at Tsumeb

GETRUDE Geises restored her dignity the day she moved into her two-bedroom house in 2012, which she built through the ‘Saamstaan’ housing group at Tsumeb.

The group, which was formed in 2006, is affiliated to the Shack Dwellers Federation, and has a membership of about 700 people.

As with housing groups across the country, the ‘Saamstaan’ group aims to to see members move into decent brick dwellings. Four years ago, the group joined forces with the Tsumeb municipality in an initiative which has seen members build 299 houses so far. Geises (50) said she has been evicted many times, and was grateful to the municipality for supporting their efforts to build themselves decent places to call home. She also said other towns should learn from the ‘Saamstaan’ group.

“I used to move around. When we got to some places, we would sometimes be evicted. It was not nice, and embarrassing. I was a domestic worker for 30 years, and could not afford a house. When I lost my job, things were tough, until someone told me about the ‘Saamstaan’ group. The women in this group are hardworking and know what they want. I joined them at a time when I thought nothing could go right in my life. But just like that, in a year’s time, I had land and was busy building my house,” beamed Geises.

The group, according to its chairperson, Juliana Somses, aims to restore the hope and pride of its members. Somses said they decided to move away from building small houses because that is what Build Together projects are known for.

“What happens is that the people, women included, make their own bricks, and build their houses as big as they want. The people at Tsumeb are hardworking, and with the assistance of the Tsumeb municipality, they make it possible. They provided us with land, and helped us with water to make bricks and build,” explained Somses. She built her three-bedroom house through the group.

Tsumeb town CEO Archie Benjamin expressed pride at being part of the project.

“Nobody should be left out, and we are proud to announce that so far, we have built 299 houses. Phase one of this project started four years ago and we are at phase five, meaning these houses are branching out and you will find very big and decent houses in areas that once only had shack houses,” noted Benjamin.

He added that the municipality will continue working with the Shack Dwellers Federation to build big and affordable houses for the residents of Tsumeb.