- Andreas Sheya (Col.)
The National Assembly Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban and Rural Development held engagements with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development; the Municipalities of Grootfontein, Otjiwarongo and Okahandja; the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia; and the Namibia Housing Action Group.
These engagements form part of the Committee’s oversight and consultative work following its recent oversight visit to informal settlements in the Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi and Otjozondjupa Regions, conducted from 17 to 22 August 2026, and stem from various issues which were discovered by the committee during their oversight activities. The meeting was attended by Mr Heinrich Amushila from the Shack Dwellers Federation, Mr Alphons Tjitombo, CEO of Okahandja Municipality, Mr Mberipura Hifitikeko, CEO of Otjiwarongo Municipality, Mr Cornelius Thaniseb, Deputy Director of Housing Development in the Ministry of Urban & Rural Development. Each of the stakeholders presented on their role in the housing sector, challenges affecting the provision of housing, access to serviced land, land allocation, informal settlement upgrading, access to basic services and the implementation of the various housing programmes.
The Committee members equally expressed concerns on a myriad of issues such as the need for concerted efforts to curb illegal occupation of land, the persistence of farm land close to towns being turned into estates and as well the four-month period given to individuals to develop after allocation which is too short and other related matters. Honourable Salomon April, member of the committee expressed relief ang gratitude as what is presented by the stakeholders ignites hopes to see that there is significant progress in improving access to affordable housing and the upgrading of informal settlements and ensuring decent housing for all citizens. The stakeholders are required to report back of the concerns raised the Committee at another platform.
