OPUWO – Following the official site transfer to the contractor on Wednesday, the phase one construction of a new Namcol centre at Opuwo in the Kunene region is anticipated to begin next week. The first phase of the centre’s development will cost N$13 million, and it is projected to be finished in 13 months. Last year, the Opuwo Town Council provided Namcol with a total of 20 000 square metres of land worth N$1.6 million at a cost of N$200 000 at the Opuwo Extension 8 location.
According to the town’s mayor, Rosa Mbinge Tjeundo, the diminution in land cost is because the town of Opuwo cherishes education for the people, and hence the town is open to any educational institutions to come and bring learning closer to the people of Opuwo, and Kunene in general.
The tender for the construction of the new regional centre was awarded to Urban Engineering, while Marley Tjitjo Architects designed the facility.
Namcol’s director Heroldt Vekaama Murangi revealed during the ceremonial site handover that phase one of the new centre will have two classrooms, toilet facilities, a science lab, and an admin block.
Murangi further stated that if funding for phase two is made available, the centre will add a computer lab and a sports field amongst others.
“Once we finish phase one, we will move on to phase two; we have already submitted our funding proposal to the National Planning Commission through the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
We want to acquire funding to complete phase two, and at the conclusion of phase two, we will have a computer lab, science lab, sports field, and conference facilities,” he said. Murangi further remarked that the development is critical for Kunene inhabitants in terms of reducing travel spending to the head office in Ongwediva or Otjiwarongo for exams. Speaking during the event, Opuwo Urban constituency councillor Ueutjerevi Ngunaihe noted that learners should promptly begin taking their education seriously so that the centre does not become a white elephant when construction is completed.
Ngunaihe also expressed his gratitude to the Namcol leadership, asserting that the new centre will be the first higher institution centre ever built in Opuwo.
-Nampa