Implementation of political and socio-economic strategies in urban housing-land delivery within the Municipality of Windhoek
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The Municipality of Windhoek has been faced with challenges relating to the slow pace of the allocation of affordable land to the people and inadequate servicing of housing land. This has, over the years, created and widened the gap between demand and supply, hence the ballooning of the number of people in Windhoek who are on the waiting list for serviced land. It has been suggested that the solution to the provision of serviced land for housing lies in the implementation of multiple strategies. While the City of Windhoek has strategies in place, no studies have been done to understand whether these strategies have been successful. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate and analyse the implementation of the political and socio-economic strategies for land distribution within the Municipality of Windhoek from 2007-2019. The study adopted a qualitative research approach taking the City of Windhoek as the case study for investigating and analysing the implementation of the political and socio-economic strategies for land distribution for housing. The population for this study included stakeholders involved in land distribution in Windhoek. Study participants were selected through purposive sampling, identifying those participants with the capacity to provide information relevant to the study. Data was collected using interviews. Results of the study showed that land allocation delays and land shortages have been caused by factors such as lack of finance, unavailability of serviceable land, rigid municipal procedures and unbalanced demand and supply. The study also found that the Municipality of Windhoek is encountering major problems which include a shortage of serviced land, high land servicing costs, and a cumbersome land allocation process. Given these findings, the study recommends that government avails finance to assist local authorities to increase the supply of serviced residential land. Some of the finance should also target the upgrade of informal settlements so that they reach the stage of security tenure. In addition, the Windhoek municipality should review land distribution methods to ensure that households in dire need of housing are given priority.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts (Geography)
Keywords
Socio-economic strategies, Municipality of Windhoek, Political, Urban housing-land delivery