Kavango Block Brick on low cost housing

DEMOCRACY has brought freedom, but has not solved the country’s housing crisis.

While much energy and money is spent on conferences addressing the issue, no actual action has been taken.

The time is right for Namibia to take franchise over what we are bringing to the table. The question is: has the private sector done enough to feed Government with a water tight housing franchise policy aimed at eliminating informal housing settlements?

Our opinion is as follows:
 
• Government should continue maintaining an open door policy for ideas from the private sector, especially concerning ideas to formalize a franchised housing delivery package. The policy should include compulsory rebate for materials intended for houses constructed under N$400 000.

• The price of natural resources used in construction should be reduced by 25% for projects earmarked for affordable housing projects, so that the poor can benefit from natural resources used in construction. For example, river sand should be made freely available for low income housing projects.

• Move away from township planning towards community planning.

• Re-think construction of roads by moving away from high maintenance tar roads to interlock paver roads.

• Kavango Block Bricks (KBB) is designed to reduce the cost of construction for the poor and there is enough room in the country for ten additional innovative block brick technologies.

• Street sweepers, domestic servants and shop cashiers do not own their own houses. Can employers not contribute N$200 to N$300 as a form of housing allowance so that domestic servants with the correct skills training and competency can obtain housing?

• Banks do not cater for first time buyers purchasing fixed property under the value of N$400 000. Banks need to re-evaluate their home loan policies.

• The construction standard of schools needs to be upgraded.

In a nutshell, KBB’s advice is if Namibians don’t make use of the franchise opportunity, the housing backlog will never be overcome.

Namibia is a small country in terms of population, but blessed with natural resources and we can set an example to bigger cities in Africa. The Franchise Code of Standard needs to be endorsed and the chains unlocked to make franchise over housing delivery policy successful.