A massive Namibian housing development programme is in its final stages of preparation.

The housing development programme, understood to be a public/private partnership between the government and institutional investors, including the country’s biggest pension fund, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), will see government involved in the servicing of municipal land, and the construction of low-cost housing in the country’s informal settlements.

The programme will likely be modelled along the lines of housing development projects in countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, Venezuela and South Africa where mass housing development programmes are being implemented underpinned by a strong partnership approach between the public and the private sector.

The programme will be implemented on an integrated development approach since it requires massive investment.

During her budget speech in February, the Minister of Finance, Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila alluded to this programme when she statedmore than adequate funding had been allocated to the Ministry of Regional, Local Government, Housing and Rural Development for the 2013/14 financial year alone to cater for, among others, the servicing of land and improved sanitary standards in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

She also said at the time that the first objective of the budget is growing the economy through strategic infrastructure development, improving its competitiveness and creating jobs.

The minister added that the provision of housing and basic sanitary amenities is an important priority to improve the living standards and quality of life for the people.

Thehousing programme is expected to be launched in the course of this year. The technical committee set up to spearhead the programme comprises officials from the Bank of Namibia, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, the Office of the Attorney General, the City of Windhoek and the Shack Dwellers Federation.

The committee has already produced a second draft blue print which is currently under consideration by a special committee of ministers established by the president to oversee the implementation of this mass housing development.