NKURENKURU – Not far from the site where Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah last Thursday refused to preside over a planned groundbreaking ceremony, an even bigger delivery question stared officials and politicians in the face.
Before the VP took to the podium, Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku made the audience aware that the location where the civic office is set to be constructed is next to the plot designated for the construction of Nkurenkuru district hospital, where the ministry of health held a groundbreaking ceremony more than a decade ago, but to date,
no brick has been laid since then.
“We have a bad experience with a ministry which came 10 years ago and promised to build a district hospital, and they did not. We are still waiting for them, and the district hospital needs to be constructed,’’ Ausiku said.
“Our region has a large number of stateless and undocumented people, and we want this challenge addressed. This office is one that could address this problem,” she said. In August 2023, we reported that the piece of land that was
fenced off for the construction of the Nkurenkuru Intermediate Hospital has
been turned into a kraal for stolen cattle by stock thieves.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said she would return if work kicks off at the Nkurenkuru civic affairs regional office, as there was no sign of actual work.
The VP said it was unacceptable for
anyone to tell the community that work will be done, while no work is being done.
“Our governor has drawn our attention to a promise just on our right side, where we are seeing a beautiful fence. I’m sure this has cost this country and taxpayers quite an amount.However, up to now, we are waiting for the hospital to be constructed. I want to assure the people of Kavango West that that
hospital will be built, it is not forgotten,” she said.
“I fully understand your frustration and I could put myself in your position. However, I want to assure you, you should not despair. Your government will ensure that such a hospital will be built as designed,’’ she noted.
The VP said the groundbreaking should signify that the work for the construction has started.
“I want to tell the people of Nkurenkuru that what I’m officiating today is not a vision, it’s a reality in the sense that this office is going to be built. I am told that the contractor is already known, all documentations are finalised, and it was really my wish that as I’m breaking ground of this important office, I must put on the first corner brick, and as I’m leaving, I must see the dust in the air,” she said.
“I see there is some sand here, shovels and helmets, but I must say I will not put on the helmet today because there is no danger since I am informed that there were some delays. They said by August, the contractor will be here, that is when will put on those helmets because I will be at the construction site where work will happen. For now, I’m just at a designated site where the civic office will be constructed,” she stated.
The VP assured the Kavango West residents that the construction of the civic office is not a project like the one being referred to by the governor.
“Let me just inform you today that this is the site that has been identified and come August, on a specified date, I will come so that when I leave here, you can see that the office is really going to be constructed. I am also assured that once construction starts, within 24 months it will be completed,’’ she noted.
“There were a few delays which could not enable the contractor to bring the equipment to the site. She will come back, and I will also be here when she comes and do the laying of the first brick, the budget is ready,’’ said the home affairs minister Albert Kawana. He said the project will cost N$70 million.