Roshskor in the green and thriving

Roshskor Township (Pty) Ltd, the company running Rosh Pinah in southern Namibia, is the only municipality in the entire country that has a healthy audit while all others fall, flounder and falter.

“We are financially sound; we are self-sustaining,” says town manager Ronnie Slabbert.

He says the town runs like a “well-oiled machine” even though it does not get any financial support from the central government because it is not proclaimed as a local authority.

The town, with a population of 7 000, which includes the 3 500 residents of the informal settlement Tutungeni, is supported by the two lead and zinc mines, Rosh Pinah Corporation and Skorpion Mine.

With this support, as well as the usual rates and taxes paid by residents, the municipality has been able to invest between N$2.5 million and N$4 million back into the local community on a yearly basis.

Over the last three years Roshskor has upgraded the ablution facilities at Tutungeni in line with President Hage Geingob's Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP).

During the first phase of the project in 2017, all long-drop toilets in Tutungeni were replaced with flush toilets. In the second phase the next year, a sewer network was installed and a further 48 flush toilets were added. During this year, a further 50 flush toilets are to be installed to get on par with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

To date, Slabbert says, the new system is working “very smartly”, and has not yet had any blockages.

According to Slabbert the potable water supplied to residents from the Orange River is “very clean” and of the best quality in the country because of the manner in which the water is sterilised.

This process involves the addition of chloride in two stages, which kills all germs and bacteria in the water. The town's boreholes are high in nitrates.

Roshskor has also started planting palm trees on the outskirts of the town along the road leading to Oranjemund. It has already planted 70 trees at the other entrance on the Rosh Pinah-Aus road to improve the image of the town.

Roshskor is also in the process of developing what it calls Level 3 projects, which is aimed at ensuring self-sustainability of the town once the mines close.

The Rosh Pinah mine has an anticipated lifespan of 13 more years. Hoping for rising zinc prices, Skorpion considers placing the mine in care and maintenance while developing a new ore body, which could extend its lifespan to a further 15 years.

Slabbert plans to establish a N$1.6-million agricultural project on a 5.7-hectare piece of land to grow aloes, lavender and a citrus orchard. He intends to present the plan to the mines for funding.

The town intends to capture tourists who visit the area for its spectacular landscapes by establishing a caravan park and mountain-bike trails this year.

The small town already boasts with the Geo Centre, a privately owned museum that displays all minerals and crystals found in Namibia.

Roshskor is also putting a lot of effort and resources into skills development and the social welfare of its residents.

It funds the Obib Training Centre where residents are trained to weave karakul mats and carpets and do leatherwork and needlework.

It also runs a soup kitchen where 70 needy children are fed at least one nutritious meal a day.

Because Tutungeni already has 214 known shebeens, Roshkor has decided not to recommend any further issuance of liquor licences.



CATHERINE SASMAN