Paulina Ndalikokule
Stefanus Nambara
NCAMAGORO – Two constituencies in the Kavango West region are set to benefit from new basic sports facilities following the inauguration of construction projects at Haisisira village in the Musese constituency and at Ncamagoro village in the Ncamagoro constituency last week.
Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo said the initiatives form part of the region’s commitment to youth empowerment and align with Namibia’s Vision 2030, which prioritises investment in human development.
She said the development of youth remains central to the country’s future, noting that infrastructure such as sports facilities plays a key role in providing opportunities for young people.
“Vision 2030 emphasises the importance of investing in human development, particularly the development of young people, because the youth are the drivers of the country’s future. When we build facilities for our youth, we build the future,” she said.
The projects will also benefit surrounding communities, as two boreholes will be drilled at the sites to provide water for both the facilities and residents.
Sinimbo noted that projects of this scale create opportunities for local small and medium enterprises and contractors, as specialised services required during construction will involve local businesses.
“Local participation ensures that development projects contribute not only to infrastructure but also to economic activity and job creation within the community,” she added.
The sports facilities are being constructed by the Rundu Vocational Training Centre, which is the main contractor for the N$10 million project.
The centre will also subcontract to local businesses during construction, which has already commenced at Ncamagoro.
At Haisisira, work is expected to commence next week.
During the inauguration events, Sinimbo reiterated her “lay-a-brick” approach to development projects, which she introduced during her state of the region address last year.
The concept was adopted after concerns about projects that were officially launched but never progressed beyond groundbreaking ceremonies.
She said, under this approach, contractors are expected to have equipment and building materials on site before any ceremony marking the start of a project to ensure work begins immediately.
Musese constituency councillor Emma Veikko said the project represents a significant development for the constituency, which currently lacks proper sports infrastructure.
She noted that most schools rely on substandard soccer fields.
The new facility will provide young people with a safe environment to participate in sports.
Similarly, Ncamagoro constituency councillor Thomas Rengi said investing in sports infrastructure is an investment in the future of the constituency’s children.
Musese and Ncamagoro were identified as beneficiaries of the facilities under a government plan to construct sports infrastructure in constituencies across the country.
Community members in Ncamagoro village have welcomed the initiative, saying the new facility will help keep young people engaged in positive activities.
*Paulina Ndalikokule and Stefanus Nambara are information officers at MICT Kavango West region.