Zebaldt Ngaruka 

GOBABIS – Community members in the Otjombinde constituency have decried serious communication challenges, mainly caused by recurring power outages in the area. 

The concerns were raised during a recent stakeholder engagement hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Otjombinde earlier this week. Among those in attendance was Chief Kaituu Tjozongoro of the Ovambanderu Traditional Council, who said the engagement was vital and expressed hope that an amicable, lasting solution would be found. 

“Our main concern here is electricity, as all forms of communication are linked to it. People are suffering and losing electronic devices due to regular power outages in the constituency,” he said. 

Tjozongoro said there is no Cenored electricity station in Otjombinde, and residents rely on assistance from officials based in Gobabis. 

“Imagine, when the electricity goes off, someone has to drive all the way from Gobabis just to lift a plug. This is unacceptable, and something must be done to permanently correct the situation,” he said. 

The traditional leader called on electricity providers to take the matter seriously, saying residents have endured the situation for far too long. Nokia Hange, an entrepreneur who operates Nokia Internet Café in Otjombinde, said the engagement came at the right time, as the community is facing hardship. 

“The lack of communication services in the settlement is a headache, and pensioners are the most affected,” he said. 

He added that at times people travel long distances to town, only to end up stranded in Otjombinde for days without being assisted due to power failures. 

Hange said the situation places a heavy burden on businesses, threatening their survival. 

Community members also called on the ICT ministry to include Cenored in future stakeholder engagements. 

“This is serious. We should have had the opportunity to ask direct questions instead of submitting complaints through representatives. Top leadership should come and respond to our plea,” community members said, adding that the engagement should not be a once-off event. 

Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology Wenzel Kavaka said he had taken note of the complaints and would engage Cenored’s chief executive officer on the matter. Kavaka told the community the engagement was not only about discussing services, but also about building bridges between government, service providers and residents. 

He said the engagement offered stakeholders an opportunity to explore ways to improve the community’s technological landscape and ensure everyone participates in the digital age. 

“We acknowledge that each one of you plays a vital role in fostering an environment where technology can thrive, and where the benefits of digital advancement are felt in every corner of our community,” Kavaka said. Kavaka, who is also the constituency councillor of Otjombinde, said the presence of service providers in the area underscored government’s commitment to ensuring the constituency has the tools it needs to connect, communicate and create. 

“These organisations are not just service providers; they are partners in our journey towards growth in connectivity and information sharing,” he said. 

The deputy minister thanked participants, saying their involvement reflected the community’s commitment to growth and development. 

“Let us work together to harness the power of technology for the benefit of everyone in Otjombinde,” he said. 

Recent prolonged power outages have also affected other parts of the Omaheke region. Otjinene constituency recently experienced a five-day outage that disrupted activities in surrounding areas. Similar challenges have been reported in Epukiro constituency, where outages have also affected water supply. 

Monday’s engagement was attended by representatives from Cenored, MTC, Telecom Namibia, NBC, traditional leaders and members of the public. 

-zngaruka@yahoo.com