Day: December 14, 2023

WINDHOEK: Namibia has to spend US dollars 15 billion for climate adaptation and mitigation, press secretary in the Office of the President, Alfredo Hengari, has said.

Hengari made this remark on Thursday at the information sharing session on the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) and the end of the year of revival.

‘This year, at COP28, Namibia basically was affirmed as one of the emerging green energy superpowers in Africa and that was the message of President Hage Geingob to say, we are ready. We have started the green hydrogen journey. Projects are already off the ground, and we are hopeful that this project will succeed,’ he said.

He added that the sixth report of the intergovernmental parliament on climate change listed Namibia as one of the countries in Southern Africa that are severely affected by climate change, particularly with regards to agricultural production, thereby compromising food security.

‘The government has availed over N.dollars 600 million for that endeavour but w
e are not just stating the problem,’ he said, adding that Namibia provided nationally determined contributions.

The US government has pledged U.S.dollars 3 billion towards dealing with the climate emergency. These funds are not for Namibia, yet Namibia has access to such monies.

COP28 was the 28th annual United Nations climate meeting, where governments discussed how to limit and prepare for future climate change. It was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

SWAKOPMUND: The recently revised National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan amongst others provides for the acceleration of the servicing of 340 000 new plots and construction of over 200 000 houses over the next five years.

The policy, which was approved by Cabinet in November 2023, also approves the scaling up and upgrading of at least 60 per cent of existing informal settlements across the country between 2024 and 2029.

This was revealed by President Hage Geingob at Swakopmund on Thursday during the handover of 89 completed houses built under the Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP).

According to the president this is part of government’s efforts towards scaling up the delivery of serviced land and housing, as well as his declaration of an emergency due to the poor living conditions of people who reside in informal settlements.

‘In this Year of Revival, we have managed to accomplish quite a lot, notwithstanding our economic realities, but one thing for sure is no matter what challenges
we have faced, are facing and may face in the future, government continues to commit itself to the provision of decent and affordable houses and serviced land to the citizens of. As Namibians, we have proven on multiple occasions that when we forge alliances across all social groups, across all sectors of our economy, across the entire spectrum of our governance architecture, no challenge is insurmountable,’ Geingob noted.

Urban and Rural Development Minister, Erastus Uutoni, revealed that 4 238 houses have been completed countrywide so far since the inception of MHDP in 2014.

‘This particular site on which we are today is comprised of 319 units with the completion of 200 to date, while the remaining 119 are expected to be completed in April 2024,’ Uutoni stated.

Sara Tsaes spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressing their excitement at finally being homeowners and noting that most of them have been on the housing waiting list for over 10 years.

‘I am particularly pleased to have been able to buy thi
s house, especially on behalf of my child who is living with a disability. I am also very happy that the house was constructed to suit his needs,’ Tsaes said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency