Plots galore at Oshakati The Oshakati Town Council is making strides towards the allocation of serviced land for its residents. As a result of rapid urbanisation, the town council has been forced to tuck in communal lands in order to address the huge demand for housing.
Town chief executive officer Werner Iita says credit should be given to local traditional authorities who have cooperated and allowed the council to extend its boundaries.
“We understand that people need land and it is a burden to councils and therefore, Oshakati Town Council has taken the servicing of land very serious,” Iita said.
“We have a great relationship with the headmen and the traditional authorities and we will never be able to thank them enough for the way they helped us and are continued to help us when it comes to developing the town.”
Last week, Oshakati Town Council advertised more than 450 serviced erven at Ekuku settlement and Extension 16. Apart from the over new plots, Iita said in Ekuku more than 600 plots still need to be allocated to people and another 900 plots are currently being serviced. Iita also said 1 300 plots are being serviced at Ehenye township while more than 200 serviced plots at Okaku-Kiipupu are ready for allocation. Namibian Sun understands that because of the cuts in expenditure imposed by government, the 1 800 plots at Ompumbu which were supposed to be serviced have been put on hold.
Oshakati joins Windhoek and Walvis Bay as leaders in the servicing and allocation of residential plots in line with the agreement entered into by the government and the Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement in 2015 obliging councils to avail 200 000 plots around the country to address the acute shortage of affordable and decent houses.
Iita further said with the continuous assistance from government and the N$50 million loan council acquired from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has made it possible to service the significant number of plots adding that the council has paid back almost half of the borrowed money.
On informal settlements in Oshakati, Iita said the low income earners such as vendors and security guards will be given the first option to buy plots in the future because the current system of first come first serve does not favour their financial means.
“As council, we want all the people especially the residents of Oshakati, to be able to own a plot and be able to have their own house one day,” Iita said.
KENYA KAMBOWE