By Helvy Shaanika
ONGHA – Ohangwena Regional Governor Usko Nghaamwa says motorists and other local people that cross the border to buy cheap fuel in Angola are killing local entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the training of 50 employees of Ongha Service Station, Nghaamwa said there are Namibians that fill up their vehicles in Angola, while some go to the extent of buying petrol and keeping it in jerrycans in their houses or businesses, avoiding local filling stations.
“Don’t go to Angola and buy in jerrycans – you are killing this [Ongha Service Station] business. This business is going to be a white elephant if you do not support it. Let us not keep fuel in our cuca-shops or in our houses,” said Nghaamwa.
Ongha Service Station at Ongha village on the main road between Ondangwa and Oshikango is the only service station operating under the Total franchise brand in the northern regions.
The service station is equipped with modern facilities such as a septic tank with water recycling functions such as treating and filtering, a restaurant with a patio, seven fuel tanks including one for bigger trucks, a takeaway, a bakery, generators and modern toilet facilities with a baby station.
The service station, which is owned by Phillip Hikumwah, also has ATM machines for First National Bank, Standard Bank and Bank Windhoek.
Hikumwah said the planning phase for the service station took at least three years, while the construction lasted for two years.
“The construction phase created 140 jobs with a record of zero percent industrial related injuries,” he said.