GOBABIS – Omaheke Regional Council chairperson wants Buitepos settlement to be upgraded to a town.

Ignatius Kariseb, who is the regional councillor for the Kalahari constituency, made the call during a recent council meeting at Gobabis and said such a move will pave the way for much-needed development at the settlement and attract investors that could help the border settlement reach its full potential.

Motivating the motion, Kariseb said Buitepos is located near the Trans-Kalahari Border Post, which is a vital and growing economic hub primarily due to its status as a 24-hour border post along the highly commercial Trans-Kalahari Corridor.

“Upgrading it from a settlement to a town would provide the necessary governance structure (town council) and dedicated administrative support to ensure its continued growth and development. It will also create employment and business opportunities for the inhabitants of the Omaheke region. Over a period of three months, we have witnessed remarkable activities at the border area, which saw 4 502 individuals crossing through the Trans-Kalahari Border Post, supported by 4 067 exports and 21 606 imports, culminating in a staggering 25 673 trade transactions,” Kariseb highlighted.

Buitepos serves as the exit point for the Trans-Kalahari Highway into Botswana.

It is located 110km on the tarred road from the regional capital, Gobabis, and has a population of over 1 000 residents.

The councillor further added that with the one-stop border post at the settlement nearing completion, Namibia and Botswana would streamline border operations and enhance trade and tourism activities.

“These figures are indicative of a thriving economic environment, contributing not only to local livelihoods but also to the national economy. This development is expected to attract additional investment and facilitate smoother trade flows, further benefiting the Omaheke region,” he added.

The councillor also shared that, in collaboration with the central government, the council is in the advanced stages of acquiring additional land to expand the boundaries of the Buitepos settlement, to make room for further development.

The settlement has a police station, one filling station, and a business named East Gate, while possible areas of investment include property rental and tourism services. Most people at Buitepos are employed by government ministries, a lodge, and a filling station.

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At the same meeting, the regional council also resolved to initiate a thorough assessment of the socio-economic conditions and infrastructure needs of Drimiopsis and Tsjaka in the Kalahari constituency, to determine their growth potential not later than the end of March 2025 to declare the two areas as settlement areas.

A feasibility study conducted on the two areas to determine their viability and sustainability as settlement areas was conducted in 2017. It concluded that the existing infrastructure in the two areas need to be improved to declare them settlements.

As such, the council, with financial assistance from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, made significant investments in constructing service infrastructure such as water and sewer reticulation facilities and electricity provision in Drimiopsis and Tsjaka.

Between 2016 and 2024, the National Planning Commission allocated a total of N$13.4 million for the construction of such infrastructure in Drimiopsis and N$12.2 million in Tsjaka. During the same period, the council also provided socio-economic support in these areas through its rural development programmes.

It was also agreed to recognise Vergenoeg and Blouberg as the region’s new growth points, given the continuous influx and settlement of people in Vergenoeg areas.

“The recognition of Vergenoeg and Blouberg as growth points will facilitate planning and budgeting for essential services, addressing the challenges posed by the influx of new residents. The creation of jobs and economic opportunities in Buitepos will have a positive ripple effect in these surrounding areas, leading to increased economic activity and employment opportunities for the residents of Vergenoeg and Blouberg,” Kariseb further buttressed. -ohembapu@nepcc.com.na