Ovitoto garment factory, situated in the Otjongombe village within the Omatako constituency, is one of the ongoing capital projects funded by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) under the Sites and Premises Development Programme, administered by Nida.
The 2019-2024 Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) annual report released on Monday revealed that the project cost is estimated at N$126 000 and minor renovation works have been completed.
The purpose of this programme is to promote and facilitate industrialisation in the country by fostering economic activities, manufacturing, value-addition as well as providing industrial parks and common facility centres.
It aims to transform the economy and reduce dependence on the retail and export of primary commodities.
The factory was constructed some 10 years ago.
There is fear that it might become a white elephant.
The garment factory was inaugurated around 2015, serving as a beacon of hope for hundreds of young and old unemployed inhabitants of the Ovitoto settlement, who ventured into sewing and catering activities.
Last week, the situation irked Omatako constituency councillor Israel Hukura, who is deeply bothered by the dormancy of centre.
“That centre has been sitting idle with no training or related activities taking place. Here, in Ovitoto, we have a substantial number of young people who need skills and knowledge in sewing and catering. However, the centre is not serving that purpose at the moment. As you know, the centre is under the care of NIDA. They are yet to inform my office on the actual way forward,” he said at the time.
Other projects
Other capital projects in the pipeline include the Manyeha Crocodile Breeding and Processing Centre in the Zambezi area.
The estimated project cost N$70.5 million.
The project is approximately 60% complete, but was halted due to a lack of funds.
“The project site has been enclosed and secured. Engagements with potential investors to complete and operate the facility continue,” reads the report.
This project covers a seven-hectare piece of land.
It is supposed to create over 100 temporary jobs during the construction phase.
It has the capacity to create about 60 permanent jobs once fully operational.
The farm was constructed to the tune of N$27 million in 2014.
Early this year, the National Council took issue with some of these projects.
Despite millions being poured into Namibia’s agro-processing development projects, little progress has been made.
Findings from the latest follow-up visits by the National Council’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts paint a troubling picture, with many projects still non-operational.
The committee identified these issues during oversight visits conducted last week to assess projects in the //Kharas, Oshana, Zambezi, Kavango West and Otjozondjupa regions.
The agro-processing development projects fall under Vote 19 of the MIT, implemented by NIDA.
About N$31.2 million was allocated for the programme this financial year.