‘State of emergency’ alone won’t fix housing crisis – churches

Churches and analysts have welcomed Namibia’s proposed housing state of emergency, but warn that declarations alone will not address a backlog of over 300 000 homes.

The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) on Friday welcomed prime minister Elijah Ngurare’s announcement in parliament last week that the government is considering declaring housing and sanitation a state of emergency.

CCN secretary general James Fredericks says the move recognises the seriousness of the housing crisis affecting thousands of Namibians – particularly those living in informal settlements.

He says many people continue to live without adequate housing, clean water, sanitation facilities and electricity.

“The declaration must, however, be accompanied by concrete measures, adequate resources, and clear implementation timelines that bring meaningful relief to affected communities,” Fredericks says.

The churches welcome the government’s decision to increase the housing budget from N$50 million to about N$700 million.

They also call for the faster implementation of the free residential plots programme and increased investment in land servicing.