Niël Terblanché
With a multifaceted approach to rehabilitation, food security, and community engagement, the envisaged Kaoko-Otavi Correctional Facility represents a step forward for Namibia’s correctional services.
Once constructed the facility will be a symbol of hope, resilience, and shared progress in the Kunene region.
Dr Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, inaugurated the partially completed infrastructure of the new Kaoko-Otavi Correctional Facility in the Kunene Region on Thursday.
The new facility is currently under construction and is set to be completed in February next year.
Kawana informed people attending the occasion that the facility, which covers over 384 hectares allocated by local traditional authorities, is set to serve as a pioneering institution in rehabilitation, agriculture, and community development once completed.
“The Kaoko-Otavi facility aims to improve rehabilitation efforts by enabling inmates to serve their sentences closer to home while located in a region previously lacking correctional infrastructure,” he said.
According to the minister, studies consistently show that incarcerated individuals who maintain family contact during imprisonment experience lower reoffending rates and better mental health outcomes post-release.
Kawana said that distance from family has historically hindered the rehabilitation of the Kunene region’s inmates, who previously served sentences in facilities in other parts of Namibia.
He said that in addition to its rehabilitative role, the facility is designed to enhance food security both within the Kunene region and across Namibia.
“The plan is to integrate agricultural production. The correctional facility will focus on crop cultivation and the production of animal feed, particularly beneficial given the recurring drought challenges in the area,” he said.
He added that an irrigation system is scheduled for installation in the 2025-2026 financial year, following the clearing of over 30 hectares of land.
“This agricultural focus aligns with Namibia’s National Development Plan 5 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of achieving zero hunger, demonstrating the government’s commitment to not only sustain the facility but also contribute to regional food production,” he said.
Kawana expressed gratitude to local leaders, particularly Chief Gerson Razapi Kavari and Chief Kaupangwa Zakekua, for their instrumental role in making the project a reality by providing land for the transformative endeavour.
“In addition to the significant social impact, the project is also set to create employment opportunities,” he said.
According to the minister, 30 community members from local traditional authorities are temporarily employed as Correctional Officers, assisting with ongoing construction and maintenance, such as the 8.6-kilometre perimeter fence.
He added that the employment initiative created a sense of ownership within the community and, based on their performance, it offers individuals potential future positions within the Namibian Correctional Service.
Kawana said that the correctional facility’s clinic will also open its doors to the public, enhancing healthcare access for residents in the surrounding area.
“The clinic will support nearby farmers with farming activities and training, aiming to improve their crop yields and livestock feed production. This outreach aspect of the facility is particularly meaningful for the Kunene region,” he said.
Kawana also acknowledged the resilience and collaborative spirit of the Kunene community.
He reflected on the words of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who emphasized that the true value of life lies in the impact we make on others.
“This facility will embody the Namibian government’s vision of a correctional system that rehabilitates and empowers, transforming inmates into productive citizens ready to contribute to the nation’s prosperity,” he said.
