Windhoek Charts Bold Path Toward Inclusive Urban Growth and Housing Access. With nearly half of Windhoek’s population living in informal settlements, the City of Windhoek has placed housing and basic service delivery at the center of its 2024/25 Strategy Review and 2025/26 Budget Planning Session.
Led by the Department of Housing, Property Management and Human Settlement under Mr. Faniel Maanda, the city’s leadership acknowledged the urgent need to address the rapid urban expansion that now sees over 262,000 people residing without secure land tenure, electricity, or formal services.
Windhoek’s population has grown significantly—from 325,000 in 2011 to over 486,000 today—placing strain on infrastructure and housing systems. An estimated N$5.5 billion is required to fully upgrade all informal settlements.
Despite these challenges, tangible progress has been made. The Council has completed 63 affordable homes and signed over 7,300 lease agreements to help secure access to services. Groot Aub formalisation is 50% complete, while servicing of Havana Extension 8 and Goreangab Extension 4 is underway.
Looking ahead, the City aims to build 5,000 houses and deliver 5,000 serviced plots annually through to 2030. Plans also include the installation of 131 high mast lights to improve public safety for 36,000 homes and the launch of a Universal Access to Electricity Project requiring N$550 million. Additional infrastructure upgrades include opening roads in Havana and Mix Settlement and bitumen surfacing of 80 kilometers of gravel roads in low-income areas.
With N$500 million already committed by the Prime Minister for erven servicing, Windhoek is positioning itself for inclusive transformation—one that prioritizes both dignity and development.