WALVIS BAY – The Governor of the Erongo Region Cleophas Mutjavikua has urged regional and local authorities to add value to the efforts of the central government, by creating employment and promoting the economic empowerment of all Namibians.
Mutjavikua said there is an urgent need to add value to the process of accelerating land delivery for the country’s planned industrialization. He referred to negotiations currently underway between the Walvis Bay Town Council and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to secure 400 hectares of land at Farm 58, situated close to Dune 7 in Walvis Bay and said the negotiations should be expedited so that jobs can be created. Mutjavikua was speaking at the first Walvis Bay municipal council meeting last week Tuesday. “It is very important for us in the local authorities to avoid bureaucratic tendencies and move fast with game-changing projects like the industrial estate since such projects will open doors for lots of down-stream industry formation, job creation and poverty alleviation,” he explained. He said apart from the envisaged industrial estate and the process of deepening the port it is imperative to be abreast of all developments in order to ensure that Namibians ultimately derive benefs. “Regarding the deepening of the Walvis Bay harbour, more spin-offs are going to be there at the disposal of our residents to reap the benefits. We all know the port of Walvis Bay is the main artery for movement of commercial goods within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and at its completion the volume is expected to increase and create more jobs,” he said. He also explained that his office is currently pre-occupied with a major development at the coast namely, the Desert Rose project. Desert Rose will become Namibia’s first international convention centre. “This project would be a typical catalytic development for the Erongo Region in particular and Namibia in general. The project is in line with Vision 2030 in terms of socio-economic upliftment and has the ability to attract new opportunities in the region, which was previously not possible. It is of cardinal importance for the local authority council of Walvis Bay to bring itself up to speed with this development and to support it fully,” he said. According to Mutjavikua he has been engaging all relevant government ministries and agencies to ensure the safe landing of the project.
“It is very important to point out that this project has been part of the discussions between the business team led by the Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob and the Ruler of the Emirates. We are expecting the ruler to pay an official visit to Namibia and it is our hope that this project will be fast-tracked,” he said. He also believes attention should be given to the upgrading of the Walvis Bay Airport to add value to the myriad opportunities that are awaiting in the Erongo Region. “We are in touch with the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that this long awaited project becomes a success story. This project is very important not only as an emotional symbol, but to connect Namibia to the world. It will accelerate the services industry, movement of goods and especially fresh fish and oysters to name a few.”
By Eveline de Klerk