Patience Makwele
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced a policy shift that will stop municipalities from allocating serviced land to private developers and instead prioritise individuals.
Speaking in parliament during her recent state of the nation address (Sona), she said the government will redirect serviced land to ordinary Namibians.
“What we have decided now, and what will be in our policy, is that we should no longer allow municipalities to give serviced land to the private sector,” she said.
“The private sector should be given virgin land, and the land that we are servicing as a government must be given directly to individuals who can build their houses.”
The move places individuals at the centre of land delivery as government tries to address the housing shortage. Demand for serviced land continues to rise, with many people living in informal settlements.
Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to Otjiwarongo as an example where residents receive land and build, with services added later.
“First, we have some municipalities which are really a good example; Otjiwarongo is one of them, where they give land to their residents. They build their houses, and then services are provided,” she said.
The announcement followed concerns raised by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani on access to land and housing.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government is also looking at ways to help people finance housing, especially those who cannot access loans.
She said alternative building technology could reduce costs. During a visit to Okahandja Park, she saw a house built with panels in five days.
“They are telling us that the durability is just the same as bricks and that they are cheaper. The house that I’ve seen is a two-roomed house with a toilet and shower, which they built in five days… it was done,” she said.
She said the unit costs about N$30 000 but remains affected by imported materials.
“Now they say it is expensive because the materials are made in South Africa,” she said.
The government plans to set up a local factory in Otjiwarongo.
“Once we bring the factory, then it will be cheaper,” she said.
She said the goal is to improve access to land and housing.
“So we are doing all these things so that people can have access to land to build their houses,” she said.
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa said the government is also working to clarify land ownership.
“There is no land for the president. There is only land for the state. The president is just a citizen like any other citizen, despite the fact that she holds the highest office in the land,” he said in parliament on Thursday.
“So every piece of land in Namibia belongs to the state, not an individual.”
He said the government will meet traditional leaders in Otjiwarongo as it plans to amend the Traditional Authorities Act to tighten control over communal land.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the policy direction is positive but unclear.
“From a public policy perspective, the directive is good, but it was not explained as to how it will work or be implemented,” he said.
He said municipalities may struggle to deliver.
“Municipalities across the country have historically struggled to service and allocate land, and they currently do not have the capacity to do so at scale,” he said.
“At the current pace of implementation, it is impossible to achieve Vision 2030.”
He said a mixed approach may be more practical.
“A mixed approach between the public and private sector is more feasible because the private sector has the capacity, but it must be regulated to prevent excessive costs,” he said.
Social justice activist Shaun Gariseb said removing private developers could slow delivery.
“Local authorities have little to no capacity to address the housing backlog,” he said.
“They should be encouraging private developers, not cutting them out.”
He said municipalities already have the power to develop land but have not done so.
“There is nothing stopping local authorities from developing their own townships now, but the reality is they are not capable,” he said.
He said more developers could improve supply.
“Markets are driven by demand and supply; the more developers we have, the more land is delivered, which could bring prices down,” he said.
“That is what ultimately benefits low-income earners.”
