Swakopmund: Five persons with disabilities received residential plots in Swakopmund, a step towards equity and dignity for vulnerable members of the Erongo Region. The 1,740 square metre plots, located in the DRC informal settlement and valued at N.dollars 261,000, were donated by the Swakopmund Constituency Office on Friday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, constituency councillor Louisa Kativa, who handed over the deeds of ownership, described the occasion as more than just a land handover, saying it is a signal of transformation. “This handover is about affirming the rights of persons with disabilities to ownership, to participation, and to a future. We are sending a strong message: you belong, you are not an afterthought in our development agenda,” Kativa expressed.
She noted that the initiative was borne out of first-hand encounters with community members, particularly those living with disabilities, who have long been overlooked in the country’s urban planning and housing development initiatives.
Edith Kukuri, the chairperson of the National Federation of People with Disabilities in the Erongo Region, praised the move as a milestone achievement and called on more leaders to emulate the initiative. “Today marks more than just the handing over of land, it marks dignity, inclusion, and a step toward equity. These plots are symbols of hope and security, fulfilling a dream for families who have waited far too long for a place to call home,” Kukuri said.
She described the handover as a victory not only for the five families but for the broader disability community across Namibia. “This milestone sets a shining example for other constituencies to follow. Real empowerment begins with practical, life-changing interventions like this.”
Among the recipients was Johanna Kambanzera, a mother of a child with a disability, who could not hold back tears of joy. She shared her long and difficult journey of moving from place to place, often being turned away due to stigma. “I used to pray because this is my child, I cannot throw him away. One day, I gathered the courage to share my story with the councillor, who at that time, was still a mayor. She took my story to heart, and today, we have a place to call our own,” she said.