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Monday, April 29, 2002 - Web posted at 9:19:04 pm GMT

PRIME Minister Hage Geingob wants the Namibian media to help resurrect the N$3,3 billion Epupa hydropower plant plan, which he says has been "stalemated" due to opposition from environmentalists and the international media.

Geingob made the appeal after visiting the Maguga Dam, a joint South African-Swaziland hydropower plant at Piggs Peak in northern Swaziland, during his three-day official visit to Swaziland.

"I brought you here to see it (the Maguga Dam) so that in your writing you can help us, because all along you have been writing negative things on Epupa. We are talking about development here. We want to see your editorial after you have seen this," said Geingob in an on-site interview yesterday.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Loini Geingos, Deputy Agriculture Minister Paul Smit and Prisons and Correctional Services Minister Marco Hausiku, was taken on a tour of the dam by Swazi Acting Minister of Natural Resources Magwagwa Mdluli and Tourism and Communication Minister Stella Lukele.

The Maguga Dam is estimated to have cost South Africa and Swaziland N$1,2 billion.

The Namibian Government has repeatedly vowed to press on with the controversial Epupa project despite opposition from among the Himba people, and concerns about the environmental impact of the dam.

However, Government's efforts have stalled because Namibia and Angola have failed to agree on which site should be used for the dam

Geingob said Maguga Dam reminded him of potential benefits Namibia had lost because of opposition to the planned Epupa hydropower plant.

According to the Prime Minister, the Epupa project could have created more than 3 000 jobs.

"But," claimed the Prime Minister, "ours [dam project] is stalemated because of the environmentalists who have the interest to photograph our people. In our case we have been stalemated because of some Africans who are being used to oppose developments."

"When they [Swazi government] explained the benefits of the dam, from the construction stage employment was created and facilities like schools, clinics and housing were built."

According to a document circulated to journalists during yesterday's visit, the construction of the dam had resulted in a new village of 170 houses at Piggs Peak, a primary and a high school, a clinic and employment for 1 700 people.

Geingob said Swaziland had touched on "controversies that we are also familiar with. Whenever you bring in development there will be a clash with cultures and practices. In the interest of development, it also shows that once the dam has been constructed there is a magnitude of benefits."

Bemoaned Geingob: "In our case, we are stalemated, and in their case they built a beautiful dam which will have downstream benefits such as irrigation, and the supplying of water to the downstream settlements."

On Saturday, Geingob met with Swazi Premier Barnabas Sibusiso and King Mswati III.

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