GROOTFONTEIN – Grootfontein’s first mo-dern shopping centre in many years is scheduled to open in December, weeks ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
“The project is a game changer on several levels. This will create excellent opportunities for prospective investors and businesses to establish themselves in the town of Grootfontein,” said resident Riando Henguva to New Era.
The N$70 million mall is bankrolled by private investors and is part of the Grootfontein council’s initiatives to achieve government’s national strategic goals such as Vision 2030 and the millennium development goals (MDGs).
“As part of this initiative the council wants the local businesses to think beyond the world of business and embrace a culture of social responsibility,” said acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Kariko.
“As council, we want to speak with real authority in promoting service delivery and encourage local people to contribute to the economy of the town as well as small and medium enterprises,” he said.
He said such initiatives would help the economy of the town to grow, especially in the long term.
“There are capital projects that are currently under construction such as the new Omulunga Industrial Park and the new secondary school,” he added.
“We are in a prized area with a higher level of construction and amenities than you would normally see at an outlet centre. We also have a pretty good store list.”
The mall, being built between Omulunga location and the town centre is expected to create job opportunities for the locals, with at least 200 temporary jobs guaranteed.
Residents expressed happiness at the new development. “I have been living in this town for over nine years, but I always have to travel to Oshakati or Windhoek for minor issues. I hope the mall will relieve us from these extra expenses we have been paying for all these years,” said one resident.
Tentants in the shopping mall will include Shoprite, Jet, Edgars Active, Legit, Pep Stores, Mr Price, Clicks, Hektas Fashion and Beaver Canoe. They have also advanced in setting up Spur, Shoprite Liquor, Telecom, and a service station and various other individual retailers.