OTJINENE - The Otjinene Village Council has serviced only 17 plots worth N$1.7 million in its prime area this year due to a lack of funds.

Village council chairperson Sylvester Kavita told Nampa in an interview on Monday that they only serviced a few plots because they do not have enough capital, as the servicing of plots is an expensive exercise.

Kavita said most of the infrastructural development comes from investors, and not from the village council.

“When it comes to developmental projects this year, it was more from investors like Shoprite, Agri-mark and Bargain Building Suppliers, which were erected this year. Those are the buildings that we are seeing in our village. Our focus was on road infrastructure, where we have constructed low bitumen roads in a few of our streets. This is part of a five-year plan to ensure that all our streets are bitumen, and move away from gravel roads,” he said.

Kavita further revealed to this agency that

the village council has availed land for the establishment of a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Park, and urged those who are into small businesses to apply in order to be placed in the new marketplace, which will be completed late next year.

This, he said, is part of council’s efforts to remove those who are operating in open spaces in the village, as these vendors obstruct the movement of people around the village.

“We have set aside an amount of N$ 100 000 for the SME Park. There is already a toilet there; the place is fenced off; and we have received more than 200 applications from interested vendors who want to move into the new business space,” he enthused.

Kavita further urged people in the village to be more welcoming to visitors, and to respect each other during the festive season. -Nampa