FARM ETUNDA – Aimed at ensuring that nearby farmworkers have a shot at education, the construction of a primary school at Farm Etunda in the Otjozondjupa region is about 90% complete.
This is according to Oscar Amuteta, the general manager at Etunda Farm Trust, which is owned by Founding President Sam Nujoma.
The school, being constructed on Nujoma’s private farm, will be donated to the State upon completion.
Recently, the New Era crew visited the project, to get an update on its progress.
“The school is about 90% complete. We are confident to handover the school to the government in the next academic year. The school is part of the Founding President, Sam Nujoma’s vision that every Namibian child must have access to education,” Amuteta said.
Most of the funding for the school’s construction came from donors, through the Sam Nujoma Foundation, he said.
“Mostly, the people around here are farmworkers who don’t earn so much. The commercial farmers here, mainly whites, have money and resources to take their children to better schools in cities such as Windhoek and other places. So, it was tate kulu’s [Nujoma] vision to have a school here that will cater for the poor,” Amuteta said.
The school is adjacent to the operational clinic on Nujoma’s private land, situated 30km south of Otavi. New Era also visited the clinic, which boasts world class facilities.
It was also constructed by the Nujoma Foundation.
Construction started in 2013, but ceased in 2018 due to limited funds, and it was also interrupted by the Covid-19 outbreak.
However, the construction recommenced again in 2022. Upon completion, it is projected to cost over N$19 million. Currently, two classroom blocks, dormitories for boys and girls, a multi-purpose hall, laundry blocks, teachers and workers’ accommodation and ablution facilities have been completed. While construction of the kitchen and dining hall have been completed, when New Era visited last week, only the fitting of requisite equipment such as fridges, stoves and other cooling items remained incomplete.
“As you can see, all the machines are here. They just need to fit them in,” Amuteta said.
– emumbuu@nepc.com.na