Every Friday New Era publishes a review of the regional distribution of the National Development Budget for 2015/2016, focussing on projects for each ministry in the regions.
The Development Budget is part of the National Budget and indicates government funding for development programs and projects, aimed exclusively at furthering the development of the country.
In an effort to address development needs a total investment of N$36.8 billion is earmarked in the Development Budget for the 2015/2016 to 2017/2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework. Of this amount N$36.2 billion is from the Inside State Revenue Fund and N$604.4 million is from the Outside State Revenue Fund. This massive investment is aimed at implementing 723 development projects of which 647 are ongoing and 76 projects are new.
Existing education facilities in the Omusati Region have been allocated N$13.5 million for basic upgrading while an additional amount of N$7 million should be used for the renovation of schools in the region. The Onawa Secondary School will soon be a reality with just over N$5 million budgeted for its construction, while N$7 million has been set aside to build the Outapi Primary School and N$1 million for a primary school in Okahao.
A regional library in Outapi has been allocated N$2.7 million. Hostel accommodation in the region will receive a boost with the allocation of N$7.4 million for this purpose. In addition, the Ashipala Senior Secondary has been allocated N$10.8 million for upgrading and the construction of a new boarding primary school at Omakange will receive N$7.5 million.
Education administrators in Omusati will soon boast education directorate offices with the allocation of N$10 million. Additional funds have also been earmarked for the construction of teachers’ houses (N$6.5 million), pre-primary teachers’ houses (N$2.3 million) and the upgrading of basic pre-primary education facilities (N$2.3 million).
On the health services front, N$15 million will go towards the upgrading and renovation of the Okahao Hospital and N$4.3 million is set aside for the Tsandi District Hospital. The construction and upgrading of primary health care clinics (N$5 million) and primary health care centres (N$3.5 million) have also been catered for. Renovation of the Outapi District Hospital will also soon be a reality with N$7.1 million allocated for the 2015/16 financial year.
Meanwhile, N$8.248 million has been allocated for the construction of the Kashamane border post as well as N$560 000 for the Omusati regional office for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration. Immigration officials will be catered for with N$13.3 million allocated for housing at the border post and outpost. In addition, an amount of N$3.5 million has been set aside for staff accommodation at the Omahenene border post.
Etayi will receive a new police station with an allocation of N$20.6 million and the Omusati regional headquarters for the police has received N$11.6 million. Also, about N$10 million has been set aside for the upgrading of police stations and the construction of accommodation for police officers. The renovation and rehabilitation of police facilities has been catered for with an allocation of N$350 000.
Services infrastructure in Okahao will receive a boost with N$10.5 million reserved for construction while the provision of basic sanitation in rural areas will receive N$5 million. The establishment of the Omusati Rural Development Centre has been allocated N$10 million and the construction of services infrastructure in Oshikuku has received N$12.5 million. In Ruacana the construction of services infrastructure has been boosted by N$10.1 million, while in Outapi Extension 8 services infrastructure has been allocated N$19.9 million.
Other major allocations include N$20 million for rural water supply coverage and N$10 million for export processing zone infrastructure development. The green scheme in the region has been allocated N$10 million and the development of animal and plant health inspection centres has been allocated N$5 million.
Farmers in the region should be smiling with N$20.5 million set aside for the beef value chain development in the northern central areas.
In terms of transport infrastructure N$12 million has been set aside for the upgrading of the Oshikuku-Okalongo road to bitumen standard, N$21 million for the gravel road from Epato to Onkani, N$40 million for the gravel road from Amwaanda to Omutambo Maowe and N$3.5 million to upgrade the Oshakati to Ongenga road to bitumen standard. Additionally, N$20 million has also been allocated to upgrade the Omafo to Ongenga to Outapi road to bitumen standard.
The Outapi Correctional Facility has been allocated N$52.5 million. The Office of the President will receive a N$10 million boost for state security infrastructure. Tourists should also feel safer in the region with N$10 million reserved for the upgrading of tourist roads in the area.