Connecting The Unconnected With Shelter And Dignified Housing

Namibia, our southwestern Africa neighbor, and firm friends (yes, the whole country) of this blog because they too do cool things for their citizens. Huawei, through its strategic partner Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), donated a sum of N$10 million to the Namibia Shack Dwellers Federations to construct 250 low cost houses countrywide. This in a country of 2.3 million people.

The decision was announced at a gala dinner held on 26 November 2018, in Windhoek to celebrate 10 years of partnership between MTC and Huawei, highlighting providing a decent and affordable shelter to every citizen is pivotal in ascertaining that the dignity of the people is restored. (Shameless plug)

Kian Chen, MD of Huawei Namibia said that Huawei has been proactively fulfilling its corporate social responsibility for a long-term and sustainable value creation with our partners.

“Ten years back, we have embarked on a mutually beneficial partnership with Huawei to serve the telecommunications needs of the Namibian people. And to date we are proud of the tremendous milestones which we have achieved. MTC and Huawei will continue to work together to bring innovative telecommunications solutions and the latest technology to enrich customers experience,” said Tim Ekandjo, Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer at MTC.

Left: Tim Ekandjo's shakes hands with HE President Hage Geingob

He also expressed sadness over the harsh reality of housing that many Namibians are enduring. “It is earnestly disheartening that after so many years of independence, we are still denying our people access to basic fundamental human right by inflating and charging unreasonable exorbitant prices for houses. A house is not a privilege but a societal necessity amongst others, for ensuring safety and security of the people, and its provision thereof does not have to continue being a challenge. 

It is estimated that there are currently close to 300 000 Namibians living in shack dwellings in the informal settlements throughout the country. This has become a growing challenge as the drive for rural-urban migration increases on a daily basis resulting in the mushrooming of many more illegal shacks.

Centre: Kian Chen, MD of Hauwei Namibia

Housing problem in Namibia is not just for the government to wrestle against but needs full backing from the corporate world. We need to collectively find a solution to this national challenge; and through the Shack Dwellers Association of Namibia, we want to prove that efficient and effective provision of decent low-cost housing is doable. A call is thus out on all of us to come on board and collectively find a solution to housing challenge in the country. As corporate citizen with the nation’s social welfare, we strive to complement the government’s effort to achieving socio-economic objectives and are delighted to be supporting this noble and worthy cause” concludes Ekandjo.

LR: HE President of Namibia Hage Geingob and Tim Ekandjo