Capital projects abandoned in Opuwo

Several capital projects in Opuwo - Kunene’s regional capital - are gathering dust, the parliamentary standing committee on economics and public administration has found.The information is contained in a dossier presented by the committee in March.According to the report, the committee visited 11 towns and regions to assess developmental projects and oversee activities related to the economy and public administration.The regions and towns visited were Kunene (Opuwo), Omusati (Outapi), Oshana (Oshakati), Ohangwena (Eenhana), Kavango West (Nkurenkuru), Kavango East (Rundu), Zambezi (Katima Mulilo), Otjozondjupa (Otjiwarongo), Oshikoto (Omuthiya), ||Kharas (Lüderitz), Hardap (Mariental) and Omaheke’s Gobabis.The visits were conducted between May and August 2019 to assess capital projects that were earmarked for the 2015/16 financial year.In Opuwo, the committee visited the construction site of the town’s long-awaited aerodrome in 2015 and again in 2019, but “no progress had taken place”.“The delegation observed for themselves that nothing has happened and that the areas still remain bushy despite annual budgetary allocations. The [Kunene] regional council has been requested by the ministry of works and transport to organise the youth to help clear the area earmarked for the aerodrome, but nothing has been done to date,” the committee stated.‘Poor workmanship’The committee also visited the envisioned Opuwo Youth Centre.“[The committee visited] a site where a youth centre building that has reached an advanced stage was demolished in 2014 due to poor workmanship. No further information as to the construction of the new centre, [when it] will have to commence or the costs [thereof] was provided,” it found.More so, the construction of Kunene’s home affairs and immigration head office has been abandoned since 2015.“No construction has taken place to date,” the committee noted.Another issue of concern for the committee was the old Opuwo abattoir which has been closed for several years.According to the committee, there is a great need for an abattoir in the town due to “the number of cattle available for slaughter, [the absence of one is] affecting livestock marketing”.“There are no immediate plans to re-open the abattoir and the nearest abattoir was in Oshakati. This situation is adversely affecting farmers who were forced to transport their livestock to Oshakati in the Oshana region. The Kunene region is estimated to have a population of over 100 000 cattle,” it further reads. - Nampa

Capital projects abandoned in Opuwo

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-21

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Capital projects abandoned in Opuwo

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-21

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