ONDANGWA – Several businesses here, particularly small and medium size enterprises, are in the process of looking for alternative premises to avoid seasonal flooding that inevitably render their current premises useless for months at a time.
However, according to the Ondangwa Town Council the leadership decided to address the problem as early as 2009 already after business operations in the town were severely affected by flooding. Ondangwa Town Council spokesperson, Luke Salomo, says a study was conducted following the devastating 2009 floods on the flow of water and how to manage the flooding. “The flood line has been identified and we have started with the excavation of certain areas to ensure that the flow of water would not be blocked during the rainy season. I must say that this is not something that can be done in one season, as it is an ongoing process. You can never say you have completely addressed the problem because the forces of nature are beyond any man. Plans are also underway to harvest the floodwater and to construct the Oshitambo Dam to store some of the water. This water will then be used during times of drought or low rainfall as we are currently experiencing,” explained Salomo. He added that all new developments in Ondangwa would now be executed within the framework of a Structural Master Plan, unlike in the past when development took place on an ad hoc and random basis.
Although this year’s prevailing drought has saved many businesses in Ondangwa from incurring costs associated with relocating to higher ground albeit temporarily, one such enterprise that is severely affected by the usual annual flooding is Mavulu Garage, which is clearly situated in the flood plains of the town. The owner of the business, Rafael Petrus Mavulu, says he has been operating from his premises on the edge of the flood plains for just over 10 years. “Once the area starts flooding we have to remove all the cars we are working on and take them to higher ground. This is why I am in the process of looking for another place,” explained Mavulu. However, Salomo added that infrastructural developments, however big or small, are of paramount importance to the town council. “Ondangwa, just like any other town in the country, is experiencing a major shortage in housing and since last year a major portion of our capital budget is going towards servicing land so that we can add value to the land before we make it available to residents.” He continued that the demand for serviced land is extremely high, but that the town council is addressing the challenge with the limited resources at its disposal.
In terms of housing the town council has entered into a partnership with Namibou to construct about 1 000 houses opposite the Olunkono Shopping Centre, he said. So far about 100 houses in phase one of the development are nearing completion, all of which have already been sold. Another development in the town is the recently completed Gwashamba Mall, which offers much-needed shopping alternatives to the people of Ondangwa, Salomo said. “We are happy because local investors have brought some relief to the people and there is no need to travel long distances to other towns for shopping any longer.” He admitted however that the Oluno residential area, which is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Ondangwa, has suffered due to neglect in the past since no provisions were made to address things such as sewerage and street lighting and fixing potholes. But the town council has already installed streetlights in about 99 percent of Oluno, with only a few more streets to be electrified. “We promised our residents tarred roads and the contractors are on the ground with their earth-moving machines and are working hard at constructing a tarred road from the local health centre all the way to the former Punyu service station. Eventually all other roads will be upgraded to bitumen standard,” noted Salomo. “Council has also added additional lighting on the road leading to the Ondangwa Airport, at a cost of between N$2 million and N$3 million.
15 Aug 2013 – Story by Edgar Brandt