Windhoek — Gobabis was a hive of activity over the past weekend, which people from all walks of life coming together to participate in the brick making activity and excavation of foundations for houses to be built by members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).

The aim of the event was to build houses and celebrate with SDFN the theme "A Roof Over My Head, A House of My Own".

More than 250 people turned up at the event including members of the Namibia Defence Forces and Police who were to take part in the brick making session.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula officiated at the event and also spent the day making bricks and digging foundations for new houses.

He said that a house is a shelter and a place of safety.

"We all want to be protected and therefore a house is a basic need," said Angula.

He further stated that he was encouraged to see members of the community organising themselves and forming support groups and cooperating in such a way that they are able to support each other to secure shelter for themselves.

At the occasion, Angula pledged to contribute an amount of N$100 per month to the shack dwellers federation until his retirement.

At the occasion, cement company AfriSam donated a further N$300,000, for the third consecutive year, to the federation.

Johan Burger, AfriSam's country manager, stated that affordable housing was critically important to the well-being and health of families.