Cecilia Xavier
OKAOKO-OTAVI – The traditional authority of Okaoko-Otavi village has agreed to donate a 250-hectare piece of land to the Namibia Correctional Services for the construction of a correctional facility and food production project.
The project was first introduced in 2016/2017 but has been on hold due to budgetary constraints. Initially, the community donated 40 hectares, which was noted as not sufficient for the project.
Namibia Correctional Services chief Raphael Hamunyela during the consultative meeting noted that they got assistance from the World Food Programme to undertake the project.
“We got a helping hand from the World Food Programme that decided to assist the Namibia Correctional Services to put up a facility and a productive land that will produce food,” Hamunyela said.
The project will benefit the community, primarily in terms of food security and job creation, he said.
“During harvest, the community will be allowed to come and harvest their food. We will harvest with the combined harvester, then they come and pick. Offenders will be picking for us and the community for themselves,” Hamunyela indicated. Chief Gerson Kavari of the Otjongoha Traditional Authority has welcomed the initiative. However, he requested the NSC to keep their word about local people benefiting, especially when it comes to employment opportunities. The chief has urged the community to rally behind the project.
*Cecilia Xavier works for the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in Opuwo.