The //Kharas region is on the cusp of being noted as a major economic region in Namibia, with Lüderitz at its spearhead.
Lüderitz has seen minimal development as a maritime hub, compared to other ports along the West African coastline. This does not mean that no development has taken place, but perhaps investment in Lüderitz could have been more focused. In looking at
developmental opportunities in Lüderitz and the //Kharas region, one cannot ignore the vast resources that the town has been endowed with, on-and offshore.
Luderitz is primed to be the energy hub of the country. The town has recently been bolstered by the movement of manganese from the Northern Cape to export markets. The advent of recent oil discoveries as well as the launch of the green hydrogen project recently inaugurated by President Nangolo Mbumba have placed Lüderitz at the centre of a sudden influx of resources and investment.The logistics and transport sectors play a great role in national integration into the world’s economic market. Ports constitute an important contribution to economic activity in coastal areas. The higher
the throughput of goods and
passengers year-on-year, the more infrastructure, provisions and associated services are required.
These will bring varying degrees of benefits to the economy and to the country.
Ports are also important for supporting economic activities in the hinterland since they act as a crucial connection between sea and land transport. Ports do not only serve an economic but also a social function. In terms of load carried, seafaring transportation is the cheapest and most effective transportation system, compared to other systems.
Industries require safe and cheap means of exporting finished goods and importing raw materials. Hence, the majority of industries in the world are located in the coastal belts, in the vicinity of major ports. These industries, in turn, influence the lives of employees and indirect
benefactors.
The time has come to develop the Lüderitz economy by ensuring its resources provide direct benefit to
its residents and the //Kharas region
at large. The development of the
Angra Deep Port is a giant step in stimulating the local economy of Lüderitz and the region at large. Not only will it result in more revenue for Namport, but new downstream industries will be developed in the process. The development of a deep port will open up Lüderitz to new and improved developmental opportunities. Take, for example, cruise ships.
The cruise ship tourism industry is one of the most booming
industries in the world. Cities such
as Venice, Mykonos, and Bari have been revitalised by cruise ship
tourism. Cruise ship passengers
come in masses for a short period of time, resulting in quick sales of
services and products in the host city. Lüderitz has many historical and archaeological places of interest that would be a drawcard for tourists. The Angra Deep Port, by enabling the docking of cruise ships, would undoubtedly revive the tourism industry and spark some much- needed employment-creation. The ability of large ships to utilise the Angra Deep Port would result in more opportunities for employment for the locals, and coupled with that would be the opening of the whole //Kharas region to service the demand this
new economic activity will bring.
The development of the port must also be viewed from a national perspective, where Namibia has identified logistics as a key national development enabler.
In this sense, developing a deep port provides a viable transportation option for goods that are destined
for SADC countries. The Angra
Deep Port development project is indeed a positive national project
that must be implemented with
vigour, and supported by all of us who share in the vision of poverty eradication.
Programmes should be made to drive investment and ensure the inclusion of the people of Lüderitz, while also upskilling them to
properly harness and benefit from the upswing in activity. It’s one thing to have nice, shiny infrastructure being built. It’s another thing to know that the town receives a real benefit that filters down to all residents and ensures a betterment of life, not just on a convenience basis but on one that educates and grooms future generations to adequately manage when they take over the reins.
*Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council and former !Nami#nus constituency councillor. He holds a Diploma in Theology, B-Theo (SA), a Diploma in Youth Work and Development from the University of Zambia (UNZA), as well as a Diploma in Education III (KOK) BA (HED) from UNISA.