Academic literature on the topic 'Housing policy of Namibia'

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to establish the determinants of house prices in Namibia and their implications foraffordability of houses. The study made use of the ARDL time series model. The study established that the seven variables in the study are cointegrated. The cointegration results enabled the specification and estimation of the ARDL Error Correction Model. The results established that gross domestic product and interest rates are important in explaining the variations in house prices in the short run. Ironically, money supply and inflation, which are closely linked, were found not to affect house prices in the short run. In addition, national domestic credit, which was used as a proxy for total mortgages advanced in the country,wasnot a significant explanation of house prices in the short run. The study also established that the independent variables included in the ARDL Error Correction Model collectively influence house prices in Namibia in the long run. The implication of this is that policies that are meant to influence house prices in the long term can actually target any one or a combination of the variables included in the study. The main recommendation emanating from the study is that the government should redouble its efforts to provide affordable land and housing to the lower and/or middle income households in Namibia.

Both Namibia and South Africa have had mixed success in their housing policies since the advent of democracy in both countries in the 1990s. This paper proceeds from the hypothesis that each country can learn useful lessons from each other in respect of housing policy. The primary purpose of this research was to describe and systematically compare the housing policies of Namibia and South Africa. The historical backgrounds of the countries, existing policies and the manner in which the policies are implemented were investigated. The research examined the housing policies of Namibia and South Africa in terms of their similarities and differences and to consider the impact and implications. Namibia and South Africa vary in their expenditure commitments to provide affordable homes. Their housing policy strategies also differ. Differences reflect different levels of prosperity and differences in governance and institutional arrangements. The study concluded that the policies of Namibia and South Africa are, in the main, similar in that both Namibia and South Africa have enacted legislation that govern matters related to housing – either as housing relates to financing and affordability or as a function of ownership. South Africa stands out, however, in that the right to adequate housing is a prescript of the constitution. In both the investigated countries, there is evidence that their policies are committed to a housing process built on the foundations of people’s participation and partnerships. But there are also differences with regard to implementation. In this study, it is brought to bear on both countries that the provision of housing was not all that successful. But good policies are a good start to a successful outcome of a process.

Namibia has been praised for having rigorous policy frameworks that address various national development challenges. Over the years, the country has introduced various policy initiatives to address the housing challenge in the country. However, implementation of such policies and programmes faced various challenges resulting in suboptimal outcomes and consequently, a situation where such programmes are abandoned, and new ones are introduced with little learning from past experiences. This paper, analysed the role of governance on effective programme management using a case study of Namibia’s Mass Housing Development Programme. The findings highlight governance challenges, as one of the key contributing factors to failing programmes. A qualitative approach was employed in gathering data using face to face in-depth interviews with the informants who represented the target population in the study. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on the importance of governance which public policy and programme makers can draw lessons from for effective programme implementation.

The urbanisation and housing crisis in contemporary Namibia has been the subject of intense debates in recent years. Much of these debates have focused on the post-independence government, which has been blamed for inadequate policies and lack of political to provide adequate houses for its citizens. Many observers saw the housing crisis as yet another instance of corruption and nepotism within the government and property development institutions in the country. Such a narrative has come to dominate both public and private spaces, leading to social agitation and the formation of a social movement – the Affirmative Reposition (AR), which has positioned itself as people‘ saviour. This thesis has analysed the urbanisation and housing crisis, and attempts to take the discussion beyond this simplistic perspective, thus filling a gap in housing debates in the country by focusing on the bigger picture. It questions the ‗state is to blame‘ narrative for being reductive – reducing all post-independence development problems to the state. By questioning the current narrative on the housing crisis, the analysis adopted a broad historical and political economy approach, and views the housing provision crisis as having both historical and post-independence roots. The central aim of the thesis was therefore to offer a counter narrative to the foregoing narrative on the housing crisis by offering a deeper analysis of both historical and postindependence factors that contributed to the crisis, and to link the crisis to the broader African development question. This was done through a number of stages: First, through an analysis of the colonial historical context and its implications for post-independence development; second, by analysing phenomena after independence that resulted from the fall of colonialism; and finally, by analysing realities of the people in urban areas. The approach adopted for the analysis of the housing crisis was therefore grounded on discourses of Africa‘s development crisis, including those of economic collapse and ‗failed‘ or vampire‘ states. More specifically, the analysis explored the role played by the colonial history and the crisis of expectations after independence. The analysis pointed to many factors that contributed to the housing crisis after Namibia‘s independence, but also argues that apportioning the blame for the crisis to the post-independence government is rather reductive and has resulted in limited and incomplete understanding of the housing crisis. The analysis suggests that the country‘s settler period should be a critical starting point to understanding the post-independence housing crisis. By focusing attention on the postindependence government and placing the blame for the housing crisis directly at its door steps, it is easy to end up neglecting historical factors and their consequential effects and manifestations after independence. These are not peculiar to Namibia, but have also been experienced in other post-colonial states in the region. These were often responsible for the demands, expectations and challenges that were encountered after independence, which any explanation that focuses on the government and its failures fail to fully explain.<br>Thesis (PhD)--University Pretoria, 2019.<br>Anthropology and Archaeology<br>PhD<br>Unrestricted

The thesis assesses the costs and benefits of Namibia's membership of the CMA to determine whether the CMA is an optimal currency area at least from the perspective of Namibia. This issue is examined from two main perspectives: (a) whether real exchange rate (RER) adjustment is frustrated by the inability to use the nominal exchange rate as an instrument of adjustment. Evidence of persistent RER misalignment may be seen as a necessary condition for an independent nominal exchange rate regime, however, it is not sufficient.(b) In this case, we examine whether nominal devaluations will have sustained effects on RER adjustment, given Namibia's structural features, such as the high degree of openness and a small nontradable sector. An equilibrium RER for Namibia is estimated using a single equation model of RER determination. The model is used to compute RER misalignments to determine whether there are sustained long periods of misalignments. To test whether nominal exchange rates can be effective in changing relative prices, a simple model was developed to measure pass-through of foreign price and exchange rate changes to domestic prices and wages. This provides useful information regarding whether nominal devaluations can be sustained. The results show that RER misalignments have been small, while the extent and speed of pass-through is complete and instantaneous for most items, suggesting that nominal devaluations in Namibia are not likely to have real effects. Even if it was the case that monetary autonomy cannot be supported on grounds of affecting relative prices, it may nevertheless be important for Namibia to pursue an independent exchange rate strategy. To examine this possibility, the analysis was extended by looking at costs and benefits of OCAs which do not rely on the ability to change relative prices. Benefits arising from savings on transactions costs and on foreign exchange reserves amounted to 3.8% and 2.4% of GDP, respectively. Further, we demonstrated that past "shocks" between Namibia and South Africa were highly correlated. The findings of the thesis suggest that the CMA is an optimal exchange regime for Namibia.

This thesis investigated the role of monetary policy in Namibia for the period 1993 to 2011. It aims at achieving six objectives. First, it reviews the evolution of monetary policy in Namibia for the period 1980 to 2011. Second, it investigates the interest rate channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism in Namibia. Third, it analyses the credit channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism in Namibia. Fourth, it evaluates the exchange rate channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism in Namibia. Fifth, it studies the money effect model in the context of the monetary policy transmission mechanism in Namibia. Sixth, it examines the exchange rate pass–through (ERPT) to domestic prices in Namibia. In order to achieve the objectives of the relative importance of the different channels of monetary policy transmission, a structural vector autoregressive model of the Namibian economy is constructed. Specifically the responses of the output and prices to monetary policy shocks for Namibia over the quarterly period 1993:Q1 to 2011:Q4 are investigated using impulse response functions and forecast variance error decompositions obtained from a structural vector autoregressive model (SVAR). The thesis also examined the exchange rate pass-through from exchange rate to domestic prices using both SVAR and the single equation error correction model (ECM). Estimation results on the different channels of monetary policy transmission mechanism showed that the interest rate channel and the credit channel are effective in transmitting monetary policy actions. The exchange rate channel is also operative but not effective. The money effect model confirms that inflation in Namibia is not a monetary phenomenon. The results of the pass-through relationship showed that there is an incomplete but high exchange rate pass-through from exchange rate to domestic prices.

This study investigates issues related to housing in the period immediately preceding Namibia's independence in 1990. A formal housing process was inherited from the colonial era and during the decade before independence, this process became the one that was applied to provide housing for low-income people. Indigenous Namibians were excluded from decision making and participating in their own housing process in the municipal areas. Policies of apartheid maintained cultural distances and contributed to a condition of lack of shared knowledge concerning the formal housing process. To solve the housing problem, an increased role by low-income people in the housing process is emphasised by international agencies, as well as the new Namibian government through its National Housing Policy and the housing strategy. In the context of policy and strategy proposals based on this emphasis, lack of shared knowledge is identified as the research problem for this thesis. This follows from the argument that shared knowledge is important to enable people to take actions in solving their own housing problems. This lack of shared knowledge is investigated through aspects of the formal housing process dealing with the commercialisation of housing and the creation of the domestic environment. The research is done by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, which include fieldwork in various urban areas in Namibia. It was determined that a limited awareness concerning certain financial and contractual aspects exists among house buyers. On the other hand, the domestic environment designs are based on principles of 'closed domesticated environments' for nuclear family and 'suburbs' for domestic purposes only, which do not reflect the way of life of the people occupying the houses. This is illustrated by an in-depth comparison of the socio-spatial characteristics of domestic environments designed on these principles, with those inhabited and created by the inhabitants themselves. To conclude, proposals are made in context of housing developments after independence. It is proposed that increased participation by low-income people can only overcome this lack of shared knowledge, if the housing process is made more accessible to people. An accessible process also has to be developed in partnership with people in need of shelter.