OTJONGOMBE – The Ovitoto garment factory, situated in Otjongombe village within the Omatako constituency, remains dormant and unoperational, some 10 years after it was constructed.
The garment factory, which is under the auspices of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida), was inaugurated around 2015 and served as a beacon of hope for hundreds of young and old unemployed inhabitants of the Ovitoto settlement, who ventured into sewing and catering activities.
But it is no longer the case, as the factory is now on the verge of becoming a white elephant as no activities are currently taking place there, a situation Israel Hukura said was unacceptable and unfair to the settlement’s unemployed and unskilled youth.
Omatako constituency does not have an urban area; it only has one settlement, which is Okandjira settlement, and the rest of its area is rural.
Okandjira is the administrative centre of the Omatako constituency, and is administered by the Otjozondjupa Regional Council.
A few key government institutions are housed at Okandjira, which include the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry, particularly its directorate of rural water supply and extension services. There is also a clinic, one police station and one Combined school.
The state of affairs has irked Omatako constituency councillor Israel Hukura who is deeply bothered by the dormancy of centre.
The councillor is of the opinion that the dormant garment centre needs to be revived in order to complement efforts of community empowerment and general service delivery in the constituency.
“That centre has been sitting idle with no training or related activities taking place. Here in Ovitoto, we have a substantial number of young people who need skills and knowledge in sewing and catering, but the centre is not serving that purpose at the moment. As you know, the centre is under the care of Nida and they are yet to inform my office on the actual way forward,” said Hukura.
He is hoping for clarity on the way forward from Nida and the line ministry, saying if not sewing and catering activities, an alternative plan has to be devised so that the centre can become productive again.
“We hear that some renovations will be done on the building and new equipment will be brought here, but we do not know when or how soon. It is a particularly good building that can help our young people, which is why we just cannot have it closed for this long.”
Last year, trade minister Lucia Iipumbu shared that the ministry was collaborating with various stakeholders to leverage garment centres countrywide as part of its intervention to ensure that small and medium enterprises are given opportunities to make and supply school uniforms in all regions.
The ministry, Iipumbu revealed, also has plans in place to do basic renovation work on the Ovitoto factory before the end of the 2024/25 fiscal year and sewing and catering equipment has already been procured by government.
Frustration
Otjongombe resident, 29-yer-old Utjiua Iyambo said the garment centre brought hope and a new sense of pride when it was first opened as many of the settlement’s inhabitants were trained in sewing, and earned some income from the various projects undertaken at the centre.
But it is no longer the case, she sadly admitted, as the building has been closed for a protracted period due to lack of activities.
“A few of my aunts were employed there some years ago and many members of our community, especially young girls, were taught how to sew and earn a living for themselves. But the centre has now closed, and we do not know what the plan is going forward. It will really be great if government can open it again, even if it means introducing other activities that will benefit the youth of Ovitoto, especially vocational activities,” appealed Iyambo.
Another resident, 67-year-old Hijauhahu Karamata said while he appreciates government efforts to create training opportunities for the country’s youth, he is disheartened by the many empty buildings that were meant to be training and upskilling centres.
“Our young people need to be empowered, and when you see a whole building just sitting with nothing taking place, it is very painful. On your way here, I am sure you saw all these young people who are just hanging around with no plans or work. That building must be revived so all these kids can be trained, they need to be helped and uplifted. But we are hopeful our councillor will address that problem because he is aware of the situation,” said Karamata.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na