Otjozondjupa Region is home to the picturesque Waterberg Plateau that is often compared to the Serengeti. The region, also home to many livestock and crop farms, is allocated N$857.345 million for its development budget for this year.
Part of the money is to be invested in youth activities with the construction of the sports complex at Gam in Tsumkwe, the upgrading of the Okakarara sports complex and construction of multi-purpose youth centres in Otjiwarongo and Okahandja. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service allocated N$12.5 million to the region.
A significant portion of the money goes towards erecting national roads and for the construction of bridges. One of the roads under construction is the road between Otjinene and Gobabis, which is allocated N$115 million. There is also the ongoing rehabilitation of the road between Windhoek and Okahandja, which was allocated N$67.5 million.
The upgrading of the railway network is also ongoing and is allocated more than N$123 million. The budgetary allocation to transport is about N$204.4 million.
The Ministry of Land Reform allocated about N$112 million for the land purchasing programme and resettlement projects. The agriculture ministry allocated N$54 million for decentralisation, construction of dams, wells and pans for livestock drinking purposes, as well as for water management.
The tourism ministry allocated N$13.1 million largely to invest in upgrading tourist roads and water provision for game in the region.
The rural and urban development ministry allocated N$104.6 million, mainly for the construction of service infrastructure in Okakarara, Okatjoruu, Okadjira, Okamatapati, Kalkfeld, Gam, Okahandja, Otavi, Grootfontein and Tsumeb.
The justice ministry is to invest N$19.4 million in upgrading and constructing lower courts in the region. Police spending in the region has been set at N$26.14 million, mainly for accommodation.
The health ministry allocated over N$116.8 million for upgrading primary health care centres and clinics. The money is also for the renovation of the Okahandja and Otjiwarongo district hospitals.
The ministry wants to put up a new Central Medical Store and establish the National Public Health Laboratory.
The education ministry allocated N$30 million for the construction of a senior secondary school at Donatus in Grootfontein, a primary school at Tsaraxa-aibes in Otjiwarongo, as well as for the construction of teachers’ houses and upgrading school facilities.