Niël Terblanché
Residents of the DRC informal settlement of Swakopmund grabbed the opportunity to be connected to the electricity supply grid with both hands.
Erongo RED and the Swakopmund municipality along with other stakeholders in the region collaborated to provide prepaid electricity supply points for nine households.
The connection of more households in the informal settlement is envisaged to create a return on investment by the municipality. Over the past few years, the local authority spent in the region of N$26 million to install services on land where the informal settlement is situated.
The Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre during a ceremony where the prepaid electricity supply points were handed over to residents said that the launch of the initiative marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a brighter and sustainable future, especially for the community of DRC who for years did not have access to electricity.
“What we are witnessing today, is history in the making. Access to modern energy services remains a prerequisite for sustainable development,” he said.
He added that the connection of nine households to the supply grid is a clear demonstration of the government’s resolute determination to ensure that services are brought closer to people.
“Through National Development policies such as NDP6 and HPP II, the Namibian Government aims to expand the electricity supply infrastructure to rural and peri-urban areas to improve the socio-economic conditions of Namibian citizens and to create the necessary environment for enhancing the quality of life.
The impact of this initiative on the residents of DRC cannot be overstated,” he said.
According to Andre, the event in the DRC is only the beginning of more good things to come.
“I strongly believe that this is not just an investment in infrastructure but rather an investment for the generations to come,” he said.
He said the electrification of the DRC informal area will not only change the lives of the beneficiaries but families and communities.
“The electrification of this area is a milestone because it is the community that will be changed forever. Now they will be able to use electricity for their basic needs. This will also allow them to participate in mainstream economic activities by starting small business activities for themselves,” he added.
He said the connection of a few households in an informal settlement is a clear example of the government and its agencies working together to address social challenges in communities.
“I believe that this initiative to electricity this community by Erongo RED will breathe new life into this community,” he said.
Andre added that Erongo RED has repeatedly proven that they have the capacity to manage projects and he urged other municipalities and town councils in the Erongo Region, to plan their infrastructure development in parallel with all key stakeholders.
“This will allow for an accelerated shared effort of bringing services to the people as opposed to bringing one service only. I wish to appeal to others to emulate this excellent demonstration of collaboration between different entities.
This electrification project is proof of the power of collaboration,” he said.
He said that Namibia can only become an industrialized nation if the government and its agencies pool their expertise, resource and ideas.
“We should remember that every time one suburb or community gets connected to the electricity grid, we are collectively boosting the local economy and unlocking the potential in our people. Through electrification projects such as these, we give every Namibian the chance to use new technologies, stay safe in the evening hours and become even more productive members of our society,” he said.
The governor expressed the hope that the people of the DRC will take full advantage of the infrastructure and make the best of it.
“Please remember to take care of this infrastructure which has been created for your benefit. Let us work together to safeguard against any vandalism and report anyone who is damaging this infrastructure promptly to the authorities,” he urged.
Tino !Hanabeb, the Chief Executive Officer of Erongo RED, said that damage to infrastructure by thieves and vandals is driving the cost of electricity up.
“Erongo RED is spending thousands of dollars each month to guard infrastructure that could be damaged by copper thieves and other vandals. These are costs which the company does not budget for which means that customers like the new beneficiaries in the DRC will eventually have to pay for,” he said.
According to !Hanabeb, the collaboration between the municipality and Erongo RED allowed the beneficiaries to obtain their connection at a price of N$2 500.
“Normally such a connection would cost N$8 000 but together we managed to subsidise the connection fees to enable people to get connected,” he said.
