Maria David
THE Ministry of Urban and Rural Development plays a crucial role in shaping Namibia’s future by designing, coordinating, and implementing the policies and frameworks necessary for both urban and rural development across the country.
Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, said during a public information-sharing seminar that their mandate involves creating and overseeing policies, legal regulations, and institutional frameworks to ensure effective and sustainable development in both urban and rural areas.
!Nawases-Taeyele emphasized the need to continue working together with a shared goal of overcoming the challenges related to land and housing.
According to the 2023 Namibia Population and Housing Census, the population now exceeds 3 million. Between 2011 and 2023, the urban population grew by 65.5%, while the rural population grew by 26.3%.
She further said that urban areas now hold 49% of the population, while rural areas account for 51%. This is a clear indication that much more needs to be done in terms of land and housing delivery.
“The challenges of rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration, as well as their manifestations in the form of informal urban settlements and development, characterized by a mismatch between demand and supply of urban services and infrastructure and poor living conditions, can only be addressed meaningfully and sustainably through collaborative effort and investment by both State and non-State role players and partners,” she said.
She explained that they are not starting from scratch but building on existing efforts like the Mass Housing Development Programme, the Build Together Programme, and other projects.
!Nawases-Taeyele also said that they will work with partners such as the private sector, communities, NGOs like the Namibia Housing Action Group and Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, as well as development partners, to improve the delivery of affordable land and housing.
