The Otjozondjupa region, through collaborative efforts with the mines and energy ministry, as well as Cenored, saw the expansion of its rural electrification programme reach over 375 households.
In the process, this created more than 123 jobs.
Over 375 houses were electrified during the 2024/2025 financial year, as hundreds of families in settlements and towns such as Otjiwarongo, Kalkfeld, Grootfontein, Okakarara, Okondjatu and Okahandja finally gained access to the regional grid.
Cenored invested over N$9 million to ensure that the above localities are successfully connected.
The latest developments were revealed by Otjozondjupa governor John //Khamuseb during his State of the Region Address last week, where he said an additional N$25.15 million was committed to capital projects aimed at improving the reliability, safety and capacity of the electricity supply network regionwide.
“This includes the ongoing upgrade of the Otjiwarongo Incomer Station and the establishment of a dedicated Load Centre at the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, meant to improve the reliability of the supply in the town. In Otavi, traffic and street lighting infrastructure were improved, while Okakarara benefited from upgraded streetlights and solar lighting along the main route,” said //Khamuseb. He added that: “A substation in Okahandja is being upgraded to improve network capacity to transfer to industrial areas. Furthermore, in Gam, the Mkhata Solar PV system was successfully relocated to the Otjiserandu Clinic to boost healthcare services. These initiatives created 67 additional employment opportunities and reflect our continued investment in sustainable energy solutions for the region.”
Roads network
The governor said the region has also moved with great dedication to further improve overall road conditions and broaden the road networks.
The region’s entire road network totals about 7 571km, including 1 253km of bitumen roads, 4 431km of gravel roads, 1 725km of earth tracks and 161.8km of proclaimed roads.
“The road infrastructure plays a critical role in linking communities, facilitating trade, and driving socio-economic growth. For the 2025/2026 financial year, the works and transport ministry is set to upgrade the Okahandja–Hochfeld–Otjozondu–Okondjatu road, spanning 196 kilometres. Procurement for the detailed design is currently underway and the project will be funded by our government,” he added.
During the last two financial years [2023/24, 2024/25], the region completed the regravelling of roads from Okakarara to Okangoho and Okakarara to Okahitwa, while in 2024/2025 alone, about 20km and 16.7km were also completed with assistance from the Road Fund Administration.
Despite these achievements, several important capital projects planned under the 2022/23–2026/27 Strategic Plan were put on hold due to budgetary constraints, and these include the preservation and rehabilitation of roads, safety improvement of the Otavi–Tsumeb and Okahandja–Otjiwarongo roads, the Grootfontein–Rooidag Gate low-volume seal upgrade, as well as construction of the Otjiwarongo weighbridge.
“Although feasibility studies and designs have been completed, implementation will only proceed once adequate funding becomes available.”
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na