WINDHOEK: Rapid urbanisation because of the influx of people from rural to urban areas continues to stretch the limited resources available to local authorities in terms of sustainable service delivery and provision of housing.

This was said by Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Jerry Ekandjo during a groundbreaking ceremony for the installation of municipal services at Otjomuise Extension 10 situated on the northern side of the Otjomuise residential area here on Wednesday.

Ekandjo said the majority of people who flock to the capital fall in the unemployed and ultra-low income category, meaning they cannot afford to pay for houses in formal residential areas or municipal services.

The minister said this rapid growth of informal settlements has become a major challenge for the City of Windhoek in terms of poor housing, overcrowding, unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, poor waste management practices and indoor air pollution.

He noted that housing and sanitation is one of the Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (TIPEEG) focal programmes which includes the servicing of land, construction of low-cost houses, and urban and rural sanitation.

The main implementing agencies of this programme are the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).

The amount earmarked for the implementation of the housing and sanitation programme over the medium term has been calculated at N.dollars 2,8 billion, of which N.dollars 1,7 billion will come from the budget of central government.

“Government will not only create much-needed jobs, housing and sanitation, but this indeed will enhance the quality of life of all our people, thereby delivering on our National Development Plans and Vision 2030,” he said.