World Habitat Day 2020 in Namibia will be observed in the Municipality of Gobabis on Tuesday, 06 October 202020. Gobabis is a town in the eastern side of Namibia and about 200km from Windhoek and the specific area where the event will take place is in the Freedom Square Area. The event is planned for 06 October, due to other pressing commitments. The Freedom Square area mentioned herein, formed part of the project areas for the Flexible Land Tenure System, which was formalized through partnership with Gobabis Municipality, Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) and Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), the Community of this mentioned area, Omaheke Regional Council, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) as well as other stakeholders. The area yielded 1,088 plots and MURD provided funding of N$10.7 million for the installation of water and sewer to all 1,088 plots through community training. It is planned for the said serviced to be launched during the day.
Similarly, MURD made funds available to SDFN, to construct 45 housing units in March this year. Since, Gobabis was chosen for observance of World Habitat day, the Ministry decided for the N$225,000 for World Habitat Day Commemoration in Namibia to be utilised to construct a further 6 housing units by SDFN. The 6 housing units are completed and will be handed over during World Habitat Day. From the 45 housing units, 16 houses as part of phase one are completed and the remainder are still under construction.