SDFN needs our support – Uutoni
Minister urges cooperation to address housing backlog
The minister said the organisation's approach is unique and worth supporting, in that it sees the community taking action to address its own housing needs.
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni has called on local authorities to work with community-based organisations such as Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in order to address the housing backlog in the country.
He made the remarks at an official handover of 23 houses built through the federation in Divundu in the Kavango East Region.
“We believe in and will continue to support the work of community-based organisations such as SDFN who have demonstrated their commitment and ability to contribute to the national drive towards providing affordable housing and proper sanitation to our people, especially those in the ultra-low- and low-income categories,” Uutoni remarked.
“The SDFN's solution to housing is unique and worth supporting in that it is a case of the community itself taking action to address its own developmental needs,” he added.
Clear testimony
“This is a clear testimony of sustainable and people-centred development, and I hereby pledge our continued support [to the federation]. As a demonstration of our trust in the work of the SDFN, we have been providing financial support to boost their housing provision efforts,” the minister said.
“I wish to urge other private sector players to put their money where their mouths are, namely by supporting worthy courses such as the work of the SDFN.”
Uutoni further called on other local authorities who have jurisdiction over urban land to make fields available to the federation, so that it can facilitate the construction of affordable housing and services.
He also took the opportunity to thank the Divundu village council for availing the land on which the houses were constructed.
Come together
According to the minister, although government is faced with a number of challenges, they can be addressed through the national development goals.
“It is evident in our community that housing is a key national development priority and an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality as well as for bringing about social harmony, economic advancement and ensuring political stability,” Uutoni said.
“The government acknowledges the challenge in the housing industry and is geared towards the provision of decent housing as one of the key development priorities in our national development plans.
“I thus believe there is no challenge too difficult for us to overcome if we put our hands together. It is imperative that we, as government, the private sector and the community come together to fulfil the Harambee Prosperity Plan of the Namibian House.”
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He made the remarks at an official handover of 23 houses built through the federation in Divundu in the Kavango East Region.
“We believe in and will continue to support the work of community-based organisations such as SDFN who have demonstrated their commitment and ability to contribute to the national drive towards providing affordable housing and proper sanitation to our people, especially those in the ultra-low- and low-income categories,” Uutoni remarked.
“The SDFN's solution to housing is unique and worth supporting in that it is a case of the community itself taking action to address its own developmental needs,” he added.
Clear testimony
“This is a clear testimony of sustainable and people-centred development, and I hereby pledge our continued support [to the federation]. As a demonstration of our trust in the work of the SDFN, we have been providing financial support to boost their housing provision efforts,” the minister said.
“I wish to urge other private sector players to put their money where their mouths are, namely by supporting worthy courses such as the work of the SDFN.”
Uutoni further called on other local authorities who have jurisdiction over urban land to make fields available to the federation, so that it can facilitate the construction of affordable housing and services.
He also took the opportunity to thank the Divundu village council for availing the land on which the houses were constructed.
Come together
According to the minister, although government is faced with a number of challenges, they can be addressed through the national development goals.
“It is evident in our community that housing is a key national development priority and an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality as well as for bringing about social harmony, economic advancement and ensuring political stability,” Uutoni said.
“The government acknowledges the challenge in the housing industry and is geared towards the provision of decent housing as one of the key development priorities in our national development plans.
“I thus believe there is no challenge too difficult for us to overcome if we put our hands together. It is imperative that we, as government, the private sector and the community come together to fulfil the Harambee Prosperity Plan of the Namibian House.”
[email protected]
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