Patience Makwele
Katima Mulilo residents have welcomed the construction of a N$450 million wastewater treatment plant, saying the project could finally address the town’s persistent sewerage problems while creating employment opportunities for local people.
This comes after the Katima Mulilo Town Council officially handed over the project site to contractor Fulbright Water on Monday, following the acquisition of an environmental clearance certificate.
The project, financed by Standard Bank Namibia and Old Mutual, is expected to take 13 to 14 months to complete.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Maurice Mutanitala, a Katima Mulilo resident with vocational training in plumbing, said residents have been waiting for a solution to the town’s sewerage challenges.
“The sewer problems have been there for some time. When there are overflows, it becomes a problem for people living nearby. So, I think this project is something that can really help the town,” Mutanitala said.
He welcomed the initiative and urged the town council to pursue more partnerships that could help improve the town while creating opportunities for local residents.
“Projects like this one are what we as residents need because it is not only solving problems but also creating opportunities for us residents. I was not lucky enough to get the job, but at least two of my family members are working on the project and this will help lift our situation back home while I also continue doing piece jobs,” he said.
Mutanitala said more projects were needed to create opportunities for young people with skills but limited employment prospects.
“They should also bring more projects like this one because just like me, there are many young people here who have skills but do not have jobs. If they can be employed on this project or other projects, even for a short period, it will give them experience and help them financially,” he said.
Another resident, Wino Mambo, who lives in Makaravani West, said improved sewerage infrastructure was important as Katima Mulilo continues to grow.
“The town is growing, but some of the infrastructure is still old. We need services that can accommodate the number of people who are here now and those who will come in the future,” Mambo said.
The employment component has also raised expectations among residents, particularly young people looking for work.
Fulbright Water said between 70% and 75% of its current workforce comes from the Zambezi Region.
According to the town council, about 40 people are currently employed on sewer and pump-station works, with the workforce expected to increase to more than 100 once construction of the treatment plant gets under way.
Kennedy Sheriff Siseho, a job seeker in Katima Mulilo, said local employment should remain a priority throughout the project.
He also raised concerns about alleged nepotism in the recruitment of workers for projects, saying some opportunities could be going to people with connections to those involved in recruitment.
“We hear about big projects coming here, but some of them are being given to those with connections and relatives who work in these companies. What matters to young people is whether we will get opportunities from them. If more than 100 people can work on the project, we want to see local people being given a fair chance,” Siseho said.
The project will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, upgrades to the existing sewer network, improvements to sewer pump stations and rising mains, as well as expansion of the network to support planned development east of Katima Mulilo.
Treated wastewater will also be recycled and potentially reused for purposes such as irrigation.
Katima Mulilo mayor Kabende Kabende said the project would relieve pressure on the town’s ageing sewerage infrastructure.
“This will alleviate the pressures we have on our existing network infrastructure, in terms of sewer, the majority of which is aged and was not able to hold the existing capacity,” Kabende said.
He said the upgraded system would increase the town’s capacity to accommodate growth over the next 20 years.
The existing oxidation plant will be decommissioned once the new treatment facility becomes operational.
The project had been delayed by the environmental clearance process and the relocation of residents living within the plant’s 250-metre buffer zone.
Fulbright Water’s Group chief operating officer said the company was now able to proceed following the approval of the environmental clearance certificate.
The official also appealed to residents to be patient during the construction period, warning that sewer works could cause temporary disruption.
“Usually when you’re doing sewer works, there is a lot of discomfort that may happen, and we request the patience of the citizens for the next 13 to 14 months,” the official said.
For Katima Mulilo residents, the expectation is that the project will not only address the town’s sewerage challenges but also give local people a chance to benefit from the investment through employment and skills development.
