Otweya residents one step closer to home ownership
WALVIS BAY – Ownership of decent housing for residents of Otweya is no longer a distant dream after 120 residents at the temporary settlement received land ownership certificates from urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni yesterday.
Construction of the houses will start once the earthworks are completed on the land just adjacent to where residents currently live in tents. Those currently living at Twaloloka will also be considered at a later stage as the site can accommodate 2 015 households.
Speaking at the ceremony, Uutoni said his visit to the coast was purely to see to it that money allocated to local authorities for housing is used to transform informal settlements through the provision of affordable housing.
“This commitment is serious, and we can only deliver if all of us commit to do away with shacks. It should not be seen as the responsibility of government, but residents must mobilise themselves and assist government,” he said.
He explained that residents would have to meet government halfway as they are expected to construct the houses themselves to cut down on costs.
“I know some of you are frustrated and angry but let us put those emotions aside and focus on developing our country. Most of you did not have houses or land but today you can proudly say that you are one step closer to your own home,” Uutoni added.
Otweya resident Annatjie Shipanga (21), who also received a land certificate, could not hide her joy yesterday, saying she has prayed long and hard for this day.
“Now I can finally build a home for myself and my mother,” said Shipanga who had been living at Twaloloka for five years before her shack burnt down with many others in July this year.
Municipal CEO Muronga Haingura earlier told New Era that as the custodian of the decongestion process, the local authority internally designed the housing units to be constructed for Otweya residents to cut down on costs.
“We estimate a one-bedroom house with a bathroom and an open plan kitchen will cost about N$50 000 to construct if residents assist with the construction,” Haingura said.