Divundu
Strategically located – and in essence the gateway to the SADC countries of Angola, Zambia, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – the newly proclaimed Divundu Village Council has unveiled ambitious plans to build houses while road and water infrastructure is being rolled out.
Christof Mbereshu, the senior administrative officer for Divundu Village Council, said upon inquiry that 38 low-cost housing units under the Build Together Project are under construction and another 38 units are also being constructed under the auspices of the Shack Dweller’s Federation of Namibia.
According to Mbereshu the houses being built under the two low cost schemes would address the housing woes among numerous government workers at Divundu, including teachers, policemen, members of the Namibian Defence Force, nurses and auxiliary staff, such as cleaners.
The new houses at Divundu are being funded under the 2015 budget and the council has also published an advert for a suitable electrical contractor to electrify the settlement under the Rural Electrification Project that has seen thousands of huts and rural houses switch from unsafe candles and woodfires to electricity.
Rural electrification is a government-funded project through which the rural areas are being electrified. Mbereshu explained that under the rural electrification project electrical wiring would only be installed up to the streets. Residents would then be able to source power from the poles along their street.
“We’re currently busy with the gravelling of some streets and the extension of the oxidation ponds. We also gave a site to the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) to build a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Park and the site handover for the fencing was done on September 29,” he said.
He revealed that Kashoro Construction was awarded the N$3.1 million tender for erecting fencing around the planned SME Park, which will be administered by the NDC. Kashoro is contractually obliged to complete the fencing around the SME park by April 21, 2016.
NamWater is also about to complete the construction of a modern bulk water purification plant at a cost of N$24 million and it is hoped the provision of bulk water to about 5 000 residents at Divundu would also reduce the risk of deadly crocodile attacks on local residents and lessen household chores.
Meanwhile, the senior administrative officer said the Divundu Village Council is expected to appoint a CEO and other key support staff, such as an accountant and human resources manager, after the nationwide local and regional elections scheduled for late November. Staff seconded by the Kavango East Regional Council will be given an option to either remain with the village council or be transferred back to the regional council.