Namibia, Africa’s last colony, became independent on 21 March 1990
after 105 years of foreign rule. Namibia inherited a very biased pattern
of human settlement development as a result of homeland (communal)
policies followed by the colonial Government. Settlement planning
and housing were used as tools of apartheid to marginalize the
majority. The disparities in the human settlement sector made it
incumbent upon the newly independent Government to redress the
situation and meet the aspiration of the people. Thus, housing and
human settlement has been identified as one of the main development
priorities of the Government along with health, education and
agriculture.
Since independence, urban areas have registered unprecedented
growth. Partly, this reflected the freedom of movement enshrined in
the constitution after years of mobility restrictions on people.
Although rural-urban migration is associated with the urban growth
(development), what is experienced in Namibia is due to push factors
from rural areas. The continuous droughts, socio- economic conditions
in rural areas, and retrenchment of farm labourers are all contributory
factors to rural urban migration in all major cities and towns
throughout the country.