Namibians can solve our housing crisis

HEINRICH SCHROEDER WRITES:

Dear Most High Honourable Minister Erastus Uutoni and Deputy Minister.

On the front page of one of the newspapers dated 30 June 2020 it was reported that Government plans to construct 1200 low-cost houses. Is this questionable?

The really great people who are remembered and who made the greatest contribution to life, are not people who asked how can I use the state and community to reach my own goals? They asked how can I use my personal talents and gifts in the service of others.

We are busy here with worthy and unworthy ambitions. Our duty is to help our communities to meet their essential needs.

I am a freedom fighter for the poorest of the poor for affordable dignified housing, high on standards, low on cost. Honourable Minister, I will never give up.

Helping the helpless is helping “Christ”. But this comes with a serious warning.

It is easy to form a relationship (PPP) with someone who can do things for us and whose influence can mean a lot to us. It is just as easy to avoid conflict in the community (no master plan, no peace in informal settlements) with the right mind set and right machinery. Anything and everything is possible.

Every economic problem would be resolved if people would live for what they could do for others instead of what they could take for themselves. Every political problem would be solved if people’s ambition was to serve. Position does not count as long as service is rendered.

WHO MUST WE HELP?

Humble families whose breadwinners earn up to N$ 5 000 and less per month, from the Orange River to the Kunene River. Families of security guards, domestic workers, construction workers, vendors, cleaners.

Let us not discriminate in which type of house (low income, ultra-low or ultra-ultra-low) they must stay. Let us call it affordable dignifying housing, high on standards, low on cost. To build a better community.

Comrade Minister, the former building societies of South Africa and South West Africa was the third most powerful in the world after that of the United State and Britain.

Old Mutual Insurance Company became a major shareholder and established offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Windhoek and Umtata. The construction companies in the group could tackle building projects of any size in any part of the country.

Using a patented jig system, it has since 1965 built more than 44 000 housing units, including 700 blocks of flats. It was awarded an Agrément Certificate for its system in July 1978, the first in its field in the country.

Every 23 minutes a house was completed.

LOCAL SOLUTIONS

A Namibian designed and patented building system, Kavango Block Brick, Supa Quick Brick and Rhino Brick, is faster than the laser guided mechanical building system. But we get no support from government.

If we stand together we can break the record of 1965-1978.

Minister, the way that Government address the issue it will take us the next 500 years.

Mass production is the answer through home grown manufacturing. Multiple building material components can be manufactured locally.

Conventional mass housing is labour intensive.

At KBB we are people orientated. Employees share in decision making. Team work and team spirit is key.

We must employ locals on site and workers must be encouraged to improve their technical education and skills. Pay and work opportunities must be equal for all.

One for all and all for one.

We want to formalize a genuine Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the City of Windhoek and have a Master Plan for bulk infrastructure services for the 14 regions.

We have models of 43.36 sqm two bedroom houses at a cost of N$181,780.41 (A) and N$96,061.00 (B, top structure only).

We propose a monthly repayment structure of N$650 per month over 30 years for Level 1 A, and N$350 per month for Level 1 B. Future extensions can include single and double storeys.

These prices exclude the cost of land, municipal fees, water, electricity and applicable taxes, as well as maintenance, which can be included at a monthly fee.

Comrade Minister, 99% of the poorest of the poor don’t understand maintenance, that’s why our township looks like garbage fields (ashope).

We propose a down payment of 1% of cost and financing for the remaining 99%, based on income.

All opposition parties, please start taking note of housing issues.