Houses galore in North

THE Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) yesterday ensured that the National Housing Enterprises (NHE) will be able to build 2 000 new houses in Oshakati over the next four years.

DBN’s Chief Executive Officer David Nuuyoma signed a N$30 million loan agreement with his NHE counterpart, Vinson Hailulu. Nuuyoma said tenders will go out for the servicing of the erven and the building of the houses and the company intended to involve black economic empowerment (BEE) companies in the Oshana Region, especially during the construction phase.Government set the construction of 7 937 new houses over five years as a national target in the Second National Development Plan (NDP II) and mandated the NHE to implement it.”However, NHE had been severely constrained in its ability to realise this objective due to the unavailability of serviced land,” Nuyoma said.He said the 2 000 houses will be a big boost in reducing the backlog in housing provision that has resulted in the mushrooming of shacks in informal settlements all over Namibia.Oshakati will also be consolidated as the commercial hub of the northern regions, according to Nuuyoma.The loan will give up to 14 000 people access to improved, safe services such as clean water, sanitation and regulated electricity supply.Nuuyoma said tenders will go out for the servicing of the erven and the building of the houses and the company intended to involve black economic empowerment (BEE) companies in the Oshana Region, especially during the construction phase.Government set the construction of 7 937 new houses over five years as a national target in the Second National Development Plan (NDP II) and mandated the NHE to implement it.”However, NHE had been severely constrained in its ability to realise this objective due to the unavailability of serviced land,” Nuyoma said.He said the 2 000 houses will be a big boost in reducing the backlog in housing provision that has resulted in the mushrooming of shacks in informal settlements all over Namibia.Oshakati will also be consolidated as the commercial hub of the northern regions, according to Nuuyoma.The loan will give up to 14 000 people access to improved, safe services such as clean water, sanitation and regulated electricity supply.