ytu Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia is a service provided by Development Workshop Namibia (DWN), a registered Namibian NGO with a focus on sustainable urban development and poverty reduction. DWN is part of a world-wide network of Development Workshop (DW) organisations with centres in Canada, Angola and France, and offices in Vietnam and Burkino Faso. It was founded in the 1970s by three architect students in the UK and has been funded by non-governmental organisations, private citizens, and national and international development organisations. In Namibia, DWN’s activities focus on urban related research, effective urban planning for the urban poor, solutions to informal settlements, water & sanitation, and projects specifically targeting disadvantaged segments of the urban youth. Through 40 years of engagement on urban issues mainly in Africa and Asia, the DW network of organisations has acquired significant institutional knowledge and capacity and is well integrated in regional and international networks. The Namibian media provide an important source of information on urban development processes in the country, highlighting current events, opportunities and challenges. The media further provide insight into the different views and perceptions of a variety of actors, be it from government, non- government, private sector, and individuals that reside in Namibia’s towns and settlements. It is therefore hoped that DWN’s Media Monitoring service will provide insights into those different views, with potential use for a variety of institutions and decision-makers that work in the urban environment in Namibia. The Media Monitoring service is currently provided on a monthly basis and monitors the following newspapers: The Namibian, Republikein, Namibian Sun, New Era, Windhoek Observer, Confidente, and Informante. The articles are grouped into following categories: Compiled by Engel Heita 1. Urban Planning, Land & Housing Edited by: 2. Urban Infrastructure and Services Ester Veiko Produced by: 3. Livelihoods and Urban Economy Development Workshop Namibia 4. Environment & Human Health Address: The text of the news articles has not been altered and thus 18 Nachtigal Street reflects the opinion of the respective media outlets, and not PO Box 40723, Ausspannplatz Windhoek, Namibia that of DWN. We hope you find this service useful and 061 240 140 interesting. DWN is keen to improve the service and [email protected] welcomes suggestions and comments. Yours sincerely, Development Workshop Namibia With support from: Namibian Chamber of Environment 1 Table of Contents 1 URBAN PLANNING, LAND & HOUSING ............................................................................................ 4 1.1 NHE to upgrade informal settlement housing ........................................................................................ 4 1.2 Shack dwellers praised for housing delivery ........................................................................................... 4 1.3 Otjiwarongo to forcefully remove land grabbers .................................................................................... 5 1.4 Outapi land turned into informal settlement ......................................................................................... 5 1.5 Henties residents question cheap land deals .......................................................................................... 6 1.6 Opuwo to sell 60 serviced erven ............................................................................................................. 7 1.7 Land grabbers defiant ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.8 Ray of hope for Mariental squatters ....................................................................................................... 8 1.9 Mariental informal settlements to be demarcated ................................................................................ 8 1.10 Windhoek rent prices remain high ...................................................................................................... 9 1.11 Omatando land owners to be compensated ..................................................................................... 10 1.12 Walvis Bay to accelerate service delivery ......................................................................................... 10 1.13 Katima Mulilo demolishes illegal structures ..................................................................................... 11 1.14 Block E residents grab land ............................................................................................................... 11 2 URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ....................................................................................... 13 2.1 Walvis Bay, Kranzberg railway progresses ............................................................................................ 13 2.2 Desalination plant output hits record high ........................................................................................... 13 2.3 Water saving: Windhoek nearly exceeds target ................................................................................... 14 2.4 Katima to repair flooded roads, streets ................................................................................................ 14 2.5 Hardap irrigation cuts spark panic ........................................................................................................ 15 2.6 NaTIS to open in Omuthiya ................................................................................................................... 16 2.7 Omungwelume hostel nearly completed .............................................................................................. 16 2.8 300 pupils without a roof over their heads ........................................................................................... 17 2.9 Every drop still counts ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.10 Sustainable use of Biomass strengthened ........................................................................................ 18 2.11 Oshikoto grounds fleet as fuel account depleted ............................................................................. 19 2.12 Uiba-Oas community in dire need of water ...................................................................................... 19 2.13 Same old, same old ........................................................................................................................... 20 2.14 Tsumeb faces acute water shortage ................................................................................................. 21 2.15 School in dire need of furniture ........................................................................................................ 21 2.16 Kunene solar plant completed .......................................................................................................... 21 2.17 Health woes in Kavango continue ..................................................................................................... 22 2.18 City should reduce illegal power connections ................................................................................... 23 2.19 Walvis Bay road signs vandalised ...................................................................................................... 24 3 LIVELIHOOD AND URBAN ECONOMY ............................................................................................. 25 3.1 MTC unveils first innovation centre ...................................................................................................... 25 3.2 SFL donates business equipment to girls .............................................................................................. 25 3.3 Drought has devastating multi-sectoral effects .................................................................................... 26 3.4 Meatco gets bulk of Norwegian guota .................................................................................................. 27 3.5 Windhoek country club hits N$158m revenue ..................................................................................... 27 3.6 Thousands of tourists expected at Walvis Bay ...................................................................................... 28 3.7 Entrepreneur donates to pensioners and the unemployed .................................................................. 28 3.8 Groot Aub languishes in poverty ........................................................................................................... 29 3.9 Priorities reopening of Rundu abattoir-Kerfu ....................................................................................... 30 2 3.10 Windhoek East tackles unemployment ............................................................................................. 30 3.11 Making a difference .......................................................................................................................... 31 3.12 Stationery brings hope ...................................................................................................................... 32 3.13 Rehoboth meat suppliers bemoan abattoir closer ........................................................................... 32 3.14 The warehouse theatre opening