11111 Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia is a service provided by Development Workshop Namibia (DWN), a newly 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. Compiled by: The articles are grouped into following categories: Esleen Guriras & Alina Nambuli 1. Urban Planning, Land & Housing Edited by: Ester Veiko & Beat Weber 2. Urban Infrastructure and Services 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 PO Box 40723, Ausspannplatz reflects the opinion of the respective media outlets, and not 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, With support from: Development Workshop Namibia Namibian Chamber of Environment 1 Index 1 URBAN PLANNING, LAND AND HOUSING ..............................................................................................4 1.1 Katrina hits back at Smit .................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Windhoek gets new developments .................................................................................................... 4 1.3 NHE allocates houses ahead of completion ........................................................................................ 5 1.4 Windhoek endures a two-hour power outage .................................................................................... 6 1.5 Swakop budgets N$99 million for houses, plots.................................................................................. 6 1.6 City cancels drawn-out land deals ...................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Technicalities ground NHE housing project in Omuthiya ..................................................................... 8 1.8 NHE denies building poor quality houses............................................................................................ 8 1.9 NHE defies N$500 000 govt price cap ................................................................................................. 9 1.10 Over 3,200 on NHE’s Rundu housing waiting list................................................................................. 9 1.11 Six times more for Windhoek land ................................................................................................... 10 1.12 NHE wants to change the housing market with public investment .................................................... 11 1.13 House prices contract for third straight month, expected to retreat further ..................................... 11 1.14 Kalahari Homeless Indaba verbeter behuising .................................................................................. 12 1.15 Reduce Govt borrowing to lower housing finance ............................................................................ 13 1.16 KHI making housing inroads ............................................................................................................. 13 1.17 Academia erven out on tender......................................................................................................... 14 1.18 City can't get N$300m from land deals ............................................................................................. 14 1.19 Rehoboth woeker met begraafplaas ................................................................................................ 16 1.20 Expensive land and housing lead to more shacks – Klazen ................................................................ 16 1.21 Back Home ...................................................................................................................................... 17 1.22 Shack dwellers make strides in housing provision ............................................................................. 17 1.23 House prices down, but still unaffordable ........................................................................................ 18 1.24 Shack dwellers accuse City of delays ................................................................................................ 19 1.25 Lüderitz pleased with housing project .............................................................................................. 19 1.26 Outjo renames major streets ........................................................................................................... 20 1.27 City to rename several streets.......................................................................................................... 20 1.28 Councillors question street renaming ............................................................................................... 21 2 URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ............................................................................................ 23 2.1 Omuthiya hospital not up to standard-Angala .................................................................................. 23 2.2 B2Gold solar farm to produce renewable energy ............................................................................. 23 2.3 Kragonderbreking lei tot chaos ........................................................................................................ 24 2.4 Govt coughs up N$58m to City ......................................................................................................... 24 2.5 New power substation commissioned at Otavi ................................................................................. 25 2.6 //Karas receives N$1b for infrastructure .......................................................................................... 25 2.7 Local authorities should ensure solid waste disposal ........................................................................ 26 2.8 Katima residents lament late rubbish removal ................................................................................. 26 2.9 Vlamme verswelg sinkhuise op Henties ............................................................................................ 27 2.10 Towns keep close eye on water ....................................................................................................... 27 2.11 Bids open for Gobabis projects ........................................................................................................ 28 2.12 Tsumeb municipality in N$7m electricity debt .................................................................................. 28 2.13 City to fill up 3 000 potholes by end July .......................................................................................... 29 2.14 Police prioritise infrastructure development – Ndeitunga................................................................. 29 2.15 //Karas councils struggle to pay debts .............................................................................................. 30 2.16 Enough money for road repairs ........................................................................................................ 30 2 2.17 Keetmans to upgrade Krönlein stadium ........................................................................................... 31 2.18 Windhoek se krane dalk oor twee seisoene leeg .............................................................................. 32 2.19 Great Relief ..................................................................................................................................... 33 3 LIVELIHOODS AND URBAN ECONOMY ................................................................................................ 34 3.1 Upsurge