Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Roads Contractor Company (RCC) has stressed that affordable housing in Namibia will not be possible without serviced land. This follows the signing of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) on Monday.
The agreement between the two state-owned enterprises aims to speed up land servicing and housing delivery under the government’s sixth National Development Plan.
RCC interim chief executive officer Dasius Nelumbu said the company’s role in road construction, water and sewer reticulation, stormwater drainage, and electrification is central to housing projects.
“Affordable housing is not possible without proper infrastructure. RCC’s role is to provide the backbone, the roads, the water, the sewer, and the power networks that make housing viable. This partnership allows us to contribute directly to communities by creating serviced land that enables decent housing, social upliftment, and economic growth,” he said.
Nelumbu said the MoU highlights RCC’s relevance in the country’s development agenda.
“RCC is more than just a roads company; we are builders of communities. Our work under this MoU will help unlock housing opportunities for ordinary Namibians and support the government’s vision for inclusive growth,” he said.
The NHE will focus on constructing houses, including those under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme.
NHE CEO, Gisbertus Mukulu, said the partnership is designed to boost the number of houses delivered each year.
“Land delivery and housing construction are top priorities on the government agenda; therefore, collaborative efforts should be explored to maximise the number of houses delivered annually to reduce the housing backlog,” Mukulu said.
He added that the MoU creates space for the two entities to use their strengths effectively.
“Our institutions can benefit from each other’s unique capabilities by complementing each other in the delivery of this highly prioritised national assignment. The RCC can excel better at constructing services, while the NHE has mastered the art of housing construction,” he said.
Under the agreement, a joint steering committee and technical committee will plan and oversee projects to ensure accountability and alignment with state priorities.
The NHE, under the ministry of urban and rural development, is mandated to provide housing solutions for low- and middle-income Namibians, including home loans and housing products.
The RCC, established under the Roads Contractor Company Act of 1999, is responsible for road construction, maintenance, and civil works.
