WINDHOEK- The Zambezi Regional Council needs about N$10 million to expropriate land from villagers to pave the way for development projects that will be initiated by the yet to be sworn-in five-member Bukalo Village Council.
Speaking in an interview with New Era, the chief regional officer, Regina Ndopu-Lubinda, revealed that the Zambezi Regional Council needs more funds to compensate villagers at Bukalo for their land, which is targeted for industrial, business and residential use.
“The plots currently available are not adequate. We have received a lot of applications for industrial, business and residential purposes but there are no plots. Only until we compensate the people then can we develop,” she said.
She said during the current financial year they only received N$4 million for compensation purposes, which she says “is inadequate”.
Bukalo successfully held local authority elections last weekend, which Swapo Party won convincingly taking four of the five seats on the village council.
“The villagers are willing to move, it’s just that there are no funds. We can’t just move into someone’s area and start developing,” said Ndopu-Lubinda.
She also disclosed that Bukalo faces a crippling water shortage that could hinder development.
The shortage, she explained, stems from the salinity of the water in the area.
“Because the water is salty, you find pipes being blocked. The pipes can’t cope with the build-up in pressure,” she said.
However, Ndopu-Lubinda said the Katima-Ngoma pipeline currently draws water from the Zambezi River and provides water to the residents of Bukalo.
“Although development has started, we need to expand the water, electricity and sewerage services. We have roads and 86 houses are under construction by the National Housing Enterprises (NHE),” she added.
Moreover, she noted, they have completed a waste management site for Bukalo.
Since many residents trade in makeshift structures at Bukalo, Ndopu-Lubinda said plans are underway to build an open market as well.
Additionally, she said, street lights are up and running and they plan to construct a police station since residents have to travel long distances to access the police either at Ngoma some 20 km away or Katima Mulilo which is 44 km away.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry also plans to establish an abattoir at Bukalo once commercial land is made available.
Bukalo has two secondary schools, a primary school and a clinic.
Th newly elected Swapo councillor, Charles Siyauya, expressed his concern about alcohol abuse in the area.
“There are more beer shops than the population of Bukalo. The effect of alcohol abuse on households is a great concern. The issue of HIV/AIDS is another issue that we collectively need to tackle and interrogate,” Siyauya stated.