KATIMA MULILO: Twenty-three houses were officially handed over to their new owners at Bukalo village in the Zambezi Region on Tuesday.The construction of the houses was funded through the Buy-a-Brick initiative, a partnership between the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and Standard Bank.Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Eveline Nawases-Taeyele, commended the initiative during the handover, saying it focuses on addressing the causes of inequality at a time when the Namibian nation is faced with an acute housing shortage and other social economic disparities.'Our government will persist in providing support to families seeking shelter, access to affordable land, and benefits from infrastructural development, particularly in informal settlements. We will continue bringing economic and infrastructural development to disadvantaged communities through programmes like the Decentralised Built-Together-programme, Urban and Rural Housing Loan Programme, and other informal settlement initiatives ,' stated Nawases-Taeyele.The deputy minister urged additional stakeholders to collaborate in tackling the social challenges associated with adequate housing, saying homes not only provide families with a secure place to live, but also establish a social standing in society.She encouraged new homeowners to maintain their houses, fulfill their housing loan obligations, and contribute to council services payments, emphasising the communal nature of assistance.'Only when you play your part can other people in the community be assisted. We will support your efforts and therefore don't give up, continue to fight poverty through teamwork and concentrate on your development,' the deputy minister said.The beneficiaries, upon receiving their new homes, said moving into these residences is not merely sentimental moment but also a restoration of their dignity as equals in society.Some of the beneficiaries noted that moving into their new houses restores their dignity as equals in society. Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)