By William Mbangula
OUTAPI
About ten years ago, Outapi was proclaimed a town. Now, Outapi town management and residents look back with pride at their success.
Located on the main road from Oshakati to Ruacana, and currently the political, administrative and commercial capital of Omusati Region, Outapi is historically known as the place where traditional wedding (olufuko) ceremonies were conducted, including some districts outside Ombalantu such as Ongandjera and Uukwaluudhi.
Arrangements are underway, New Era was told, to revive the olufuko festival as one of the annual events which will include, among others, trading and exhibiting business items.
Prior to independence 17 years ago, Outapi was just a growth centre with one secondary school, a hospital, a few shops, a post office, traditional authority offices and a South African military base.
It is now home to 12 government ministries, a 30-bed hotel with conference facilities, a pharmacy, general medical doctors’ practices including dentists, three banking institutions (Bank Windhoek, First National Bank (FNB) and Standard Bank, with Nedbank to come towards the end of the year), and parastatals such as NamWater, MTC, Telecom, and NHE which has acquired land to build close to 300 houses.
The pace of urban expansion represents a major and permanent demographic shift in the population from rural to urban centres; hence, Outapi is currently preparing itself for such a new trend.
With the migration of people from rural areas and officials from other towns such as Ondangwa and Oshakati following the implementation of the decentralization policies and those looking for employment (unemployment rate here is at 22.2%), more houses would be needed in the town.
Already close to 70 employees were shifted from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (Directorate of Rural Development) to the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development.
Such workers needed accommodation within the town boundaries as they prepare themselves to settle permanently in Outapi.
As if this was not enough, on July 12 this year about 100 employees of the Directorate of Education in Omusati arrived in buses at Outapi for settlement following their relocation from Ondangwa to the capital of Omusati. Outapi’s topographical feature is characterized by a flat area with massive baobab trees (one of which has been declared a national monument for its historical connections as a former post office and operational centre of the Native Commissioner), palm and marula trees.
Situated in a unique and unspoilt strategic area, Outapi is considered the gateway to most important centres in the region such as Ruacana, Tsandi, Okalongo, Oshikuku and Okahao. It is even the gateway to the much-talked-about Cape Friar envisaged harbour at the Atlantic Ocean.
Proclaimed a town in 1997 and having jumped the level of village council because of the regional capital status, Outapi is growing fast at the moment.
As part of the development plans of the town in a public / private partnership concept, a vocational school (which will mainly focus on the hospitality industry under the Ministry of Education) will soon be constructed her.
There are also plans to build a private primary school, a Catholic Church and Elcin Church buildings, with the Apostolic Faith Church already functioning in the town.
Other NGOs have also joined the development activities of the town by putting up their own infrastructures such as the Red Cross, New Start, NANAWO and Cleaning Services.
The Town’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oswin Onesmus Namakalu, said that after close to ten years at the helm of the town he is walking tall, and is proud for having achieved a milestone in the sense that most of the three-core strategic areas of development have been achieved.
These are to build comparative advantages for Outapi and to address potential economic growth and employment-creation opportunities; to build a shared vision for residents and stakeholders for the future of the town in order to achieve a high buy-in level. This will do much to develop the town, to enhance organizational, managerial, technical and financial capacities, to meet its challenges and opportunities, and to provide services in a client-oriented fashion.
We became autonomous in 2002, and so far we have been doing well. Our town does not owe any service provider a single cent. Our accounts are paid on time because we rely on our own in terms of operational funds and capital projects since our financial base has now been broadened, said Namakalu.
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