Teachers left homeless in Oranjemund

The Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) has called for inclusivity and justice to be done with regard to the distribution of low-cost houses being built by the Oranjemund Town Council (OTC) under its social housing project.


NANTU branch coordinator, Prudence Malipa, has expressed her disappointment with the allocation process of the first 56 low-cost houses, done recently by OTC. “It is discouraging that no single teacher and no person from the Zambezi region received a house. We ask that the houses be fairly allocated and request transparency on the procedures and criteria used for the allocation process. The teachers believe they deserve equal opportunities, especially given the unique circumstances of the town,” Malipa emphasised.


OTC acting CEO, Festus Nekayi, explained at the handing over ceremony on 3 September that a housing committee was established earlier this year to guide the allocation process. “The criteria we used include fire-prone areas, good municipal payers, persons with disabilities, council staff and community diversity,” he said.


According to Malipa, there are approximately 30 teachers at both government schools (Garibams Secondary School and Ambrosius Amutenya Primary School) in Oranjemund who have no accommodation. “Teachers are facing serious challenges related to housing. Many are forced to constantly move from one residence to another after they were evicted from the Namdeb properties they occupied. It seems that the focus is always on supporting the children while neglecting the needs of teachers,” she said.


Malipa said that the crisis severely impacts the teaching and learning environment, with many teachers coming and going due to a lack of proper housing. “This situation shows a lack of respect and dignity for educators. The absence of adequate housing affects not only the teachers’ welfare but also the stability and quality of education in Oranjemund. An unhappy teacher is a less productive teacher.”


Malipa added, “It is disheartening that Namdeb provided the only high school infrastructure in 2020 and that housing for teachers was never considered. We celebrated five years of existence this year, and despite this, no teachers’ accommodation has been provided.”


She further highlighted that NANTU repeatedly raised this concern with community leaders and the ministry. “Unfortunately no tangible steps have been taken. The teachers organised a demonstration in 2021, and the issues they raised remain unaddressed to this day, despite the awareness among our leaders and relevant ministries.”


In conclusion, Likando called on leaders to refrain from making discriminatory, tribal, and regional comments when discussing issues affecting teachers, such as housing. “For example, remarks like, “Why should they come and work so far from their hometowns if they don’t have accommodation?” should be discontinued. We are Namibians, and we have the right to settle wherever we choose.”