Surihe Gaomas
26 July 2005
Windhoek — DUE to the ever increasing population rate of 4,4 percent and the rapid urbanisation in the country, the pressure and demand for housing have become critical.
Thousands of people cannot afford a proper roof over their heads, while some opt to rent rooms rather than buy a house using loans secured from the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) or others secured from banks.
Official statistics indicate that close to 300 000 houses need to be built under the country's Vision 2030 program-me. Furthermore, based on joint research done by the Namibian Housing Action Group and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, over 70 000 informal structures have been erected in urban areas in all the regions.
However, the gloomy picture still remains that most of the people who live in these mushrooming informal shacks do not have basic necessities such as proper water supply or electricity.
Due to socio-economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment, the majority of Namibians just do not have the means to build decent houses with cement walls and floors.
However, a recently established non-profit organisation Tunga Tunga Trust in Namibia seems to be striving to address the precarious housing situation in the country, especially for the low-income groups of society.
'Tunga Tunga' is an Oshi-wambo word for 'build and empower the nation through cheaper housing'. It was an idea mooted by a group of concerned Namibians three years ago, who then transformed it into an organisation established in February this year.
Poor people do not have money or resources to get loans from banks or the National Housing Enterprise (NHE). This leaves them with no other option but to squat in informal shanty areas of the country.
The Chairperson of the Tun-ga Tunga Trust, Elsie Yukun, said that the organisation's aim is not to make it into a business. Rather it is a source of hope for poor Namibians to erect prefabricated houses. "These movable houses are made from metallic sandwich panels which are fire and weather resistant. The insides of the walls consist of white chrome which keeps the house warm during winter and cool during summer," explained Yukun, adding that these materials can be broken apart and re-assembled.
"In times of drought, or where the farmer is moving from one area to the next, such removable houses are ideal and affordable for the poor man on the street," she added.
Since there is a big demand for housing in the country, Tunga Tunga is targeting over 100 families in Walvis Bay next month, where the first interest in this project was shown, based on research done late last year. A 24-square metre house costs N$10 800, where a square metre amounts to N$450.
However, to meet the pock-et needs of a poor person, this amount can be paid off in instalments without any interest, or alternatively to build an even smaller unit depending on the income needs of a person. Those who are still unable to pay off this amount can enter into a saving group scheme where they can pay off over a certain period of time.
The metallic and aluminium materials are currently being imported from South Africa, but the organisation plans to set up its one production factory in Ondangwa.
Registered as a trust in June this year, Tunga Tunga's operations have been recognised by various regional councils and municipalities which have expressed interest in this affordable housing venture.
With a team of 24 skilled workers, it normally takes only one day to build this kind of removable house, where electricity lines are also placed for lighting. In addition, the trust also installs solar panels on the roof, as renewable energy is cheap and affordable for poor villagers.
After a radio awareness programme, curious Namibians are streaming to its offices wanting to know what this venture is all about.
"I think it's a great idea for me, because I want to build a farm house on my reserve in Okararara," said farmer Abuid Veseevete. "It's really a much better alternative than mud, brick or zinc houses that we have, and having a third choice like this one is great. Even the quality is good for me," he added.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2005 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
