By Nuusita Ashipala
ONGWEDIVA – Uncertainty still surrounds the completion of the multi-million-dollar Oshakati Open Market that was scheduled for completion last year.
Initially, the opening was set for June last year, however, due to unfinished work it was first extended to September and later to November.
Almost a month later after the last extension, the open market is still not open. However, Jackson Muma, public relations officer at the Oshakati Town Council, says the market would open soon.
“The work was done by last year. They were just busy with the final touches, when that is done council will wait for the contractor to hand over the market to council,” related Muma. The delay is also because of the absence of fittings, such as the lift observation tower that is being manufactured in Germany, Muma added.
The council has reserved N$12 million this financial year to finish off one of its lucrative capital projects to be implemented between 2009/10 and 2014/15 financial years. By October last year, the open market had gobbled over N$80 million.
The new open market will house an administrative office, information kiosk, retail stall and public meeting hall. It would also house public toilets, cold storage, craft market, seasonal food market, children’s playground, 37-metre high observation tower, braai and raw meat market.
“Council would like to appeal to the public, particularly to the open market vendors who are at this moment dearly looking forward to enter the new state-of-the-art Oshakati Open Market to bear with us and exercise [a] degree [of] patience in this regard,” said Muma.