Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia

The Polytechnic of Namibia’s cooperative education unit responsible for finding internship for students at companies and organisations, gave recognition to the Namibia Housing Action Group for accommodating the highest number of students for work intergraded learning in the non-governmental sector. The Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG) has an 18 year collaboration with the Polytechnic of Namibia which ranges from surveying of informal settlements, land- use planning, pro poor policy development, support and advocacy and research on water and land administration. Welcoming the recognition awarded at the Polytechnic’s annual industry consultative breakfast on Monday, NHAG national coordinator Anna Muller said “This relationship with the Polytechnic is very important for future development planning in Namibia”. Muller said with NHAG the students have the opportunity to learn what is happening in urban areas and informal settlements, and become aware of the important roles that...

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia(SDFN) National Facilitator Ms Edith Mbanga  gave a presentation to 2 nd and 3 rd year land management students at the polytechnic of Namibia on the SDFN’s link to the Flexible land Tenure Act , Act no 4 of 2012. Educating future professionals on the community’s process and creating a platform for the students to engage the SDFN directly. The lecture was proposed by Professor Wolfgang Werner. Ms Mbanga informed the students : The Flexible Land Tenure Act, Act 4 of 2012 was initiated a long way after the Shack Dwellers of Namibia (SDFN) saving groups started organising themselves in 1987. The SDFN was consulted on the act before it was finalized. The act was only passed in parliament in November 2012; currently regulations are being formulated spearheaded by the Ministry of Land and Resettlement. Background The SDFN has 19 540 in 14 Regions with 602 saving groups. The Groups have a total of N$16 999 112.28 from their daily saving...

The planning for the freedom square informal settlement was preceded by three very important rituals , which did not form part of the planning studios as such , but were critical to building bridges for the community and local authority to reach a common understanding on the way forward . These include - enumerations  exchanges  building of partnerships : watch the video for the planning process