Maria David
PROVISION of housing remains a priority for the government, ensuring that all people are provided with decent and affordable shelter.
This is according to Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni during the official handover of 33 houses at Tsandi’s Extension 6 by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) on Monday.
Uutoni highlighted that this comes just a month after the handover of 81 houses in Outapi, with another 70 houses in Okahao nearing completion.
“I am aware of the cost of houses falling out of reach for many of our people, particularly those in the middle to low-income bracket who are struggling to access affordable housing,” he said.
Uutoni emphasized the importance of all stakeholders playing their part to address this issue. He noted that reasonably priced land, provided by local authorities, is crucial for enabling lower-income groups to afford NHE-constructed houses.
The existence of these houses, according to Uutoni, allows the municipality to generate revenue from rates and taxes, contributing to its sustainability.
As the Ministry responsible for housing provision, Uutoni expressed support for initiatives that deliver affordable housing to the people, especially those in the low to ultra-low-income range. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the increasing costs of construction materials and transportation, which make it difficult to maintain the desired selling prices.
Chairperson of Tsandi Village Council, Selma Kadhila, emphasized the council’s commitment to promoting local economic growth and providing excellent services in a sustainable manner. She assured NHE that Tsandi is open to investment opportunities in housing delivery, as the national demand for housing continues to escalate despite economic challenges.
Kadhila reaffirmed the council’s readiness to provide land and work towards its strategic objectives for housing provision.
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