City of Windhoek Requires N$7 Billion to Tackle Housing Shortage. The City of Windhoek needs an estimated N$7 billion to effectively address the capital’s growing housing shortage. This was revealed by Faniel Maanda, Strategic Executive for Housing, Property Management, and Human Settlement, during a presentation to a delegation from the City of Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday
Maanda outlined that the ongoing housing challenges are largely driven by increasing urban migration, with individuals moving to Windhoek in search of economic opportunities. He noted that Windhoek’s population is growing at an annual rate of 3.1%, while informal settlements are expanding even faster at 6.1% per year. If current trends continue, the city’s population is expected to double within the next 21 years.
In response to these pressures, the City of Windhoek is implementing several initiatives, including the Informal Settlement Upgrading Project and the Council Affordable Housing Programme, both aimed at improving access to housing and basic services.
The visiting Cape Town delegation, led by City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, is in Windhoek for a five-day familiarization visit to exchange knowledge and experiences on urban management and service delivery.Following the briefing, Mbandazayo stressed the importance of proactively managing informal settlements. Drawing from Cape Town’s experience, he cautioned that delays in addressing housing needs can lead to severe challenges, such as the illegal occupation of public parks and, in some cases, cemeteries.
The delegation also toured Freedomland to view housing units completed under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Project, which aims to improve living conditions in high-density areas.