Namibia Commits to Formalize 60 Percent of Informal Settlements by 2028

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) in Namibia has committed to formalizing 60 percent of the country’s informal settlements as part of its housing project for the 2024/2028 period.

According to Namibia Press Agency (Nampa), Minister Erastus Uutoni stated during a Cabinet Committee Briefing that there is a national strategy in place to address housing challenges. The National Housing Policy, serving as a cornerstone for this strategy, has undergone revisions to ensure it serves the needs of the Namibian populace effectively. Uutoni emphasized the ministry’s reorganization to review and revitalize this policy, with active engagement from relevant stakeholders. An approximate budget of N.dollars 750 million is expected from the government to support this initiative over the next five years.

The focus of the revised policy will shift from contractual land delivery to the provision of adequate housing and basic services, especially for low-income groups. The minister underlined the need for prioritizing state resources for the benefit of society’s lowest income earners. Uutoni also highlighted the ambitious target of delivering around 347,000 plots and over 221,000 new houses within the project’s five-year span, calling for community participation to replicate the success of community-built Shack Dwellers houses.