WINDHOEK – The Lüderitz Town Council has embarked on massive capital projects worth close to N$800 million geared towards employment creation, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and housing sanitation.
//Karas Regional Council Chairperson Reverend Jan Scholtz revealed this yesterday when he visited the head offices of New Era Publication Corporation in Windhoek. He said he had also briefed President Hifikepunye Pohamba on developments in the region during his visit to //Karas Region last week.
One of the projects Scholtz highlighted is the rehabilitation of the railway line which is well underway. “The port of Lüderitz will soon be connected to a railway line and as such we anticipate an economic boom within the transport and logistics sector. Economic history has taught us that road and railway transport and logistics are a catalyst in connecting and moving products and commodities. In that regard, we appreciate the fact that Lüderitz town is and will be the engine of economic growth and serve as a key player towards SADC regional economic integration,” he said.
According to him, Lüderitz for the past decade suffered various cyclical economic turbulences caused by varying internal and external factors but different economic role players had kept the town afloat. “However, Lüderitz is today and will continue to be the commercial harbour of the south,” he said.
The Namibia Ports Authority recently conducted feasibility studies on the congestion and infrastructure deficit in other ports in SADC and other parts of Africa, which presented a good business proposition for the expansion and development of the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.
“Walvis Bay port development is underway and in a few years’ time we anticipate the development of the second harbour at Agra Point, which will be an industrial port exporting iron ore and manganese from the Northern Province of South Africa, capitalising on the already existing cooperation agreement between //Karas Region and the Northern Province,” Scholtz projected.
Another success story was the second phase of the Lüderitz waterfront development, which he labelled “a milestone”. The waterfront second phase would serve as a “diversification component in the local economy”, he added.
“Currently as we speak, the rehabilitation of the old power station is underway with a cost estimate of N$270 million and close to 100 people are employed at this juncture,” he said.
He also said a contractor is busy servicing land on which 247 houses will be built under the mass housing programme.
By Albertina Nakale