Katima Mulilo
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa has called on staff in his ministry to speedily expedite and implement capital projects in Zambezi Region.
Mutorwa stressed that when the national economy grows and performs well, all budgeted progammes and projects will be implemented smoothly and on schedule.
“The opposite is, however, unfortunately also painfully true. And that is what our economy and financial structures are going through during the 2016/2017 financial year,” Mutorwa noted.
He said despite financial constraints his office would ensure that projects budgeted for are implemented without delay.
Mutorwa also wants the acceleration of projects that need to be expanded and developed, like the Liselo project and Katima Farm in the Zambezi Region.
He said these are projects have already been budgeted for and will soon be developed.
Mutorwa was also disappointed with the delay in re-opening the Katima Mulilo Abattoir, which was due to have re-started operations last month.
He revealed that there have been delays in the paperwork of the local company, which has been awarded the tender to start using the facilities, but said the process is at the final stage and the abattoir would certainly soon re-open.
Mutorwa was speaking at the official opening of the Ministry of Agriculture’s new Zambezi regional headquarters’ on Thursday. The new two-storey building cost government about N$25 million to construct.
The office will accommodate regional heads of all the ministry’s directorates, including general services, veterinary services, agricultural production, engineering services, research and development, water supply and sanitation coordination, as well as forestry.
During the inauguration Mutorwa said the opening of the building demonstrates the absolute importance of the Ministry of Agriculture to the operations of government and the public at large.
“To those who will move to this building and who will operate from here: Welcome! Make prudent use of these offices… and provide the people of Namibia with the services they rightly deserve,” he noted.