Patience Makwele
Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC)’s engagements with the central government on revitalising the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park have reached an advanced stage, mayor Kabende Kabende told the Windhoek Observer on Thursday.
Kabende said the council wanted to unlock the town’s tourism potential and make it more attractive to tourists and investors, while ensuring local businesses and residents benefit from the sector.
“We are engaging with the central government on revitalising the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park, and these engagements are at an advanced stage,” he said.
The renewed push to revive the facility follows a meeting between Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and environment, forestry and tourism minister Indileni Daniel on 20 October, during which the project’s prolonged inactivity and public expenditure were raised.
More than N$200 million has been spent on the waterfront, which has remained inactive for 17 years.
Daniel said the ministry had dispatched a technical team to the Zambezi Region to assess the facility’s condition and determine what would be required to bring it into operation.
The assessment is expected to identify outstanding work and inform the government’s next steps.
No additional funding requirement or operational timeline had been announced in the reported update.
The development forms part of the town’s efforts to attract investment in hotels, restaurants, lodges and conference facilities, as it seeks to encourage visitors to explore Katima Mulilo beyond the annual Zambezi Bream Festival and Cultural Expo.
Joseph Minyoy, from the council’s department of economic development, called for more tourism facilities during an information sharing session with the ministry of information, communications and technology at the Rundu Annual Trade Fair, where the council was promoting Katima Mulilo as a destination for tourism and investment.
“We need more restaurants, we need more lodges, we need more hotels. We need a convention centre like this, like where we are,” Minyoy said.
He said the council was encouraging businesses and government institutions to establish branches in Katima Mulilo, adding that business registration and fitness applications were available to those seeking to establish businesses.
Kabende said the council was committed to creating an environment that encourages private investment in tourism-related businesses.
“One of our priorities is to facilitate access to appropriately planned and serviced land for investors, in line with the Council’s planning framework and applicable procedures,” he said.
The mayor has also encouraged visitors to explore Katima Mulilo throughout the year and support local accommodation providers, restaurants, craft markets and transport services.
He said tourism could create opportunities for young people in arts, culinary activities, fishing, agriculture and event management.
However, Kabende said tourism development must go hand in hand with addressing residents’ needs, including the shortage of serviced land, housing, sanitation, roads and other essential services.
“The Council continues to prioritise land servicing, housing opportunities and infrastructure improvements,” he said.
The town has a housing backlog exceeding 6 000 units, while more than 2 000 applicants were reported to be on the waiting list in May 2026.
Kabende had proposed servicing 200 residential plots annually over five years to address the shortage.
On sanitation, the mayor said construction of the town’s wastewater treatment plant was expected to commence soon.
“This is an important development for our town, particularly as we work to improve sanitation and create capacity for future housing and land delivery,” he said.
Kabende said the council’s vision was to grow Katima Mulilo in a way that creates economic opportunities while improving residents’ quality of life.
“We believe tourism investment can contribute meaningfully to that vision, provided that development remains inclusive and benefits our community,” he said.
