Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Electricity blackouts continue to be a problem in the Kavango East region despite the electrification of Mutengo Mukuru in the Rundu Rural Constituency and Ncushe Primary School in the Mashare Constituency, which was successfully completed at the cost of N$714 889.54 and N$96 545.39, respectively.
The region’s Governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, stated that the issue of electricity blackouts in the region is regrettable and causes both business disruption and inconvenience to residents of Kavango East.
“We must move with speed to end the nightmare of frequent blackouts or find a solution that will eliminate the blackouts before people call for a declaration of a State of Disaster on our energy. This is not a good story to our people; hence, a solution ought to be found,” he said.
Wakudumo made these remarks on Friday during his State of the Region Address.
He added that in order to decrease the likelihood of crocodile and hippopotamus attacks, the residents of the entire Kavango East Region urgently need access to potable water supplies.
Despite the Rundu Treatment Plant’s rehabilitation, which the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein launched last year, water problems still exist in the Kavango region.
“Potable water supply to the residents of the entire Kavango East Region is another area that the region needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency.
We proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture Water, Land Reform, should expedite the construction of the proposed pipeline between Rundu and Divundu,” stressed Wakudumo.
An 11-year-old girl was killed by a crocodile earlier this year while fetching water from the Kavango River near Shikorovillage, Ndiyona constituency. The deceased was identified as Mathilde Muhuli.
Meanwhile, the Governor stressed that the management of green schemes, Rundu Abattoir and Uvhungu-vhungu Dairy need urgent attention to curb the high unemployment rate of the youth.
“Our intention is to have local participation in the management and operation of these projects and facilities with the view of boosting the local economy,” he added.
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) said it needed about N$80 million in start-up capital to fully operate the multimillion-dollar Rundu abattoir.
The N$110 million abattoir was due to be fully operational by 2017.
Its construction started in 2014, but financial constraints and postponements have delayed the completion of the facility.
The facility is meant to serve as a market for cattle and small-stock farmers in the two Kavango regions.
The facility was handed to Meatco by the government through the agriculture ministry.
Meatco Chief Executive Officer, Mwilima Mushokabanji during a meeting with the Kavango East and Kavango West regional leadership in April said starting the abattoir requires start-up capital, which is challenging.
