Keetmanshoop: The ||Kharas Regional Council in collaboration with the Keetmanshoop Municipality on Monday broke ground for the envisaged Keetmanshoop urban brickmaking project. The regional council has earmarked N.dollars 400,000 for the project, while the municipality has provided the land at Camp 60, about two kilometres outside Keetmanshoop. The project is set to kick off in two weeks’ time and will employ 20 unemployed youth. It aims to accelerate job creation in the Keetmanshoop area and produce and supply bricks to housing projects in Keetmanshoop and the region.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Keetmanshoop Mayor McDonald Hanse stated that the project is crucial in providing communities with access to safe and affordable housing and will create job opportunities for residents. Hanse commended the regional council for its commitment to ensuring that residents can access quality building materials. He emphasized the collaboration of leasing the land to the regional council as a strong dedication from
all stakeholders to support the community.
Hanse highlighted the challenges posed by the increasing cost of living, making housing unaffordable for many, which forces citizens to resort to substandard housing. He pointed out that this situation compromises safety and poses risks such as fire hazards, leaving families vulnerable. This is evident through shack fire incidents experienced in various towns in Namibia, underscoring the urgent need for proper housing.
||Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Joseph Isaacks, acknowledged their limited revenue stream but expressed determination to go above and beyond. He mentioned that two years ago, the council received money from NamRA and resolved to divide the funds among all constituencies, leading to this project. Isaacks noted the economic challenges faced by the region’s settlements due to high unemployment and poverty, which limit meaningful revenue generation.