SWAKOPMUND – Beneficiaries of the Build Together housing programme have been encouraged to repay their home loans to the Swakopmund Municipality and also start a small business at their homes to help them repay the loans.
The Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Natalia /Goagoses, who was speaking at the handover ceremony of 70 houses under the programme in Swakopmund on Friday, told the beneficiaries that this would further enable more people who need shelter to benefit from the project.
“Please make sure that you repay your loan so that other people can also benefit the same way you did,” she appealed.
Swakopmund constructed 70 houses to the tune of N$8.8 million for low-income residents at the town.
The beneficiaries are expected to pay back N$80 000 for houses that cost between N$120 000 to N$140 000.
A further 79 houses are still being constructed.
“Make every possible attempt to repay the loan because the Build Together scheme is a revolving project in a sense that once you are done repaying your loan, after three-four years, we will bring new people onto the list,” she noted.
She further advised that beneficiaries set up small businesses, such as tuck shops and salons at home, as these would benefit their families and help them pay off their loans faster.
“We do not want drugs and other evil activities that will distract the community in these houses. They are heavily subsidised by the municipality; therefore, we can regulate what activities take place,” the deputy minister cautioned.
The construction for phase one, which consisted of 30 houses, valued at N$3.5 million, commenced in May 2020 and was completed in April 2021.
The second phase, with 40 houses, commenced in February 2021 and was completed in December 2021 at a cost of N$5.3 million.
Speaking at the same event, chairperson of the local Build Together group committee Jeanette Fredericks said owning a house is multi-faceted, as it not only provides shelter but also restores individual dignities, saves families and provides children with secure environments to study freely.
“The Build Together programme is a great example of the successful implementation of upgrading informal settlements, and we are very happy to be beneficiaries of this project; it is our wish that once we are done paying our loans, another group of people will benefit too,” she stated.
“The Swakopmund housing development model strategically outlines 11 developmental projects, which are focused on providing affordable and decent housing to its residents. Council, through the Build Together housing scheme, has made provision for housing for a total of 150 beneficiaries,” she explained.
Swakopmund council CEO Archie Benjamin earlier also indicated that there are about 22 000 people on the Swakopmund waiting list for houses.
According to Benjamin, council has also entered into smart partnerships that will see more houses being constructed at the town.
- Additional reporting by Nampa