Niël Terblanché
THE rapid pace at which members of the Shack Dwellers Federation constructed 121 new houses at Otweya in Walvis bay has surprised the Minister of Urban and Rural Development.
Minister Erastus Utoni expressed his surprise at the progress while on a visit to the site where the new houses for the victims of the disastrous Twalaoloka fire are being constructed.
The majority of the new houses have already been completed and are ready to be handed over to their new owners.
The minister congratulated Naftali Uutoni, who stands at the head of the construction project and the various contractors that are building the houses. While Uutoni does not receive much compensation for his hard work the contractors earn a mere N$5 000 per house they complete.
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché 
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché 
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché 
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché 
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché 
SURPRISING PROGRESS: The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, and the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre along with the representative of the Shack Dwellers Federation, Naftali Uutoni in front of one of the newly constructed houses in the new Otweya township of Walvis Bay. – Photos: Niël Terblanché
“These houses might be rudimentary but they are good. It is permanent structures that will give the owners the opportunity to make a fresh start after the devastating fire that destroyed their shacks last year,” the minister said.
The houses are constructed in such a way that more rooms can be added without too much trouble.
“This is what happens when people help each other. The people of Twaloloka have shown what it means to stand together,” Utoni said.
The project has also been supported by various institutions such as Namdock and Cosdec that provided some resources during the course of construction.
Namdock provided funds for construction materials while trainee bricklayers from Cosdec applied their newly acquired skills to help build some of the houses.
“If people use the opportunities that their new homes are creating for them, they will be able to earn money to extend their homes and live happy lives for a long time. These houses should be seen as the starting point of something great,” Utoni said.
The minister indicated that the last few houses will be completed in the next few weeks and that the official handover could occur as early as the end of June.
The minister was accompanied on the inspection visit by the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre.
During the visit, the governor said the Otweya project is such a success because of the smooth cooperation between the Shack Dwellers Federation, the local authority of Walvis Bay, and the regional government.
“The dedication of all parties involved has made this a huge success,” Andre said.
