Environmentalists and educationists are working to restore forest cover in the Kaseveni area of Malaa, Matungulu Sub County, following extensive tree destruction.
The initiative is set to shield the community against the harmful effects of floods and mighty winds that have wreaked havoc, sweeping away house roofs and causing diseases such as pneumonia in the area, which is a fast-developing town.
During the launch of the initiative spearheaded by the local Baraka Hawali School on Wednesday, the stakeholders vowed to plant more than 5,000 trees during this rainy season.
Area Chief Thomas Mutua said the bareness of the area is due to massive deforestation by charcoal burners, warning that the cutting of trees in the area will not be tolerated.
‘We experience mighty winds, especially in the evenings and nights, which sometimes rip off the roofs of houses. We also get some dust-related infections. Also, floods continue to ravage the area due to the bare land devoid of trees and other vegetation,’ said the ch
ief.
Baraka Hawali School Board Chair Chrisphine Oluoch said the institution will distribute free seedlings to the community, adding that they have identified groups that are supplied with seeds and tree seedlings.
Oluoch said they came up with the strategy to facilitate environmental transformation and create a conducive environment for learners and the community as a whole.
‘It is in this response that Baraka School has come up with this deliberate programme that gears towards climate change mitigation. We will have community involvement to green the area and increase forest cover,’ said Oluoch.
He said they will also encourage the planting of fruit seedlings that will add value to the nutrients required by their children.
Source: Kenya News Agency
SWAKOPMUND: The recently revised National Housing Policy and Implementation Action Plan amongst others provides for the acceleration of the servicing of 340 000 new plots and construction of over 200 000 houses over the next five years.
The policy, which was approved by Cabinet in November 2023, also approves the scaling up and upgrading of at least 60 per cent of existing informal settlements across the country between 2024 and 2029.
This was revealed by President Hage Geingob at Swakopmund on Thursday during the handover of 89 completed houses built under the Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP).
According to the president this is part of government’s efforts towards scaling up the delivery of serviced land and housing, as well as his declaration of an emergency due to the poor living conditions of people who reside in informal settlements.
‘In this Year of Revival, we have managed to accomplish quite a lot, notwithstanding our economic realities, but one thing for sure is no matter what challenges
we have faced, are facing and may face in the future, government continues to commit itself to the provision of decent and affordable houses and serviced land to the citizens of. As Namibians, we have proven on multiple occasions that when we forge alliances across all social groups, across all sectors of our economy, across the entire spectrum of our governance architecture, no challenge is insurmountable,’ Geingob noted.
Urban and Rural Development Minister, Erastus Uutoni, revealed that 4 238 houses have been completed countrywide so far since the inception of MHDP in 2014.
‘This particular site on which we are today is comprised of 319 units with the completion of 200 to date, while the remaining 119 are expected to be completed in April 2024,’ Uutoni stated.
Sara Tsaes spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressing their excitement at finally being homeowners and noting that most of them have been on the housing waiting list for over 10 years.
‘I am particularly pleased to have been able to buy thi
s house, especially on behalf of my child who is living with a disability. I am also very happy that the house was constructed to suit his needs,’ Tsaes said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency