Boundless joy over a place to call home

Three women from Rupara village in Kavango West, who are to benefit from a housing project under the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), say they never thought they would ever own a home in which to raise their children.

Hertha Kambinda, Fatima Isuamo and Natalia Kandimba are amongst 32 SDFN members who will in the near future be homeowners.

The housing project falls under the Standard Bank Buy-a-Brick initiative and is supported by MTC. Speaking to Namibian Sun shortly after the launch of the project last Friday, the trio expressed their utmost gratitude, saying they have been patient for a long time.

Kambinda, who is a mother of one and lives at her father's homestead, said she wants to have her own house and her own space.

She explained that she joined the federation in 2010. At some point she was even refunded some of the monies she had paid to the organisation, as the years dragged on.





“I am so happy to see that the construction process for our houses has started,” Kambinda said.

“It was not easy. We started saving money in 2010 and it suddenly stopped. I, however, remained hopeful and was patient until I heard a radio announcement on the Buy-a-Brick initiative and our then group leader announced it during a church sermon. We then started to save our money again, and today we are here as near-future beneficiaries.”

Isuamo, who is a mother of seven, also expressed her gratitude, saying she will forever be grateful to the Shack Dwellers Federation.

She said that at some point members of the community were mocking them, saying that they are wasting their time saving their money with the SDFN.

“I am very happy that I will be a beneficiary of a house. There were those who were saying we are just saving up for nothing, but today they were proven wrong. I now urge them that they should join the federation and be paid up members,” Isuamo said.

Natalia, a mother of four, said raising her children in a corrugated iron structure has been difficult, especially during hot days and nights.

She said she cannot wait to move into her house.

“It has been hot in the kambashu I currently live with my four children. I can't wait for my house to be completed, so we move in,” she said.

Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga said at the launch of the housing project that initiatives such as Buy-a-Brick are restoring the dignity of Namibians.

“For some people these houses are nothing, but for people who have lived with no shelter for the better part of their lives, these houses mean a lot,” he said.

“Becoming an owner of these houses is symbolic, as much as it is sentimental, and should feel like a dream come true. This initiative addresses government's resolve to provide housing to needy members of society and to restore their dignity as equals in society.”

Standard Bank's head of marketing and communication Magreth Mengo said in a statement read on her behalf that about 200 houses have been completed under the Buy-a-Brick initiative.

Mengo said their target as from 2021 is the construction of at least 1 000 houses a year.

MTC spokesperson John Ekongo said: “The lack of decent housing continues to be one of the most contentious issues in Namibia, which is currently facing our country.

“It is in light of this that since June 2018 we cemented our involvement in the Buy-a-Brick project, with an initial donation of N$800 000.

“This was further followed with capital support of N$10 million last December. We acknowledge the need to do more, as the dream of providing housing, security and comfort to all continues to challenge us.”

KENYA KAMBOWE