Known to most as the Ehafo or OK Parking lot across the road from the Kalahari Sands Hotel, the N$800-million development, including an upmarket 150-room hotel, office buildings and shops, will be known as the Eliakim Namundjebo Plaza.

Construction work is set to start within the first half of next year.

The hotel is likely to be part of the City Lodge group, and will probably be one of the first buildings to be erected at a cost of between N$70 and N$80 million.

United Africa Group Executive Director Haddis Tilahun said yesterday he believed that Namibia needed more first-class hotels to attract big conferences and events.

"Namibia needs more upmarket hotels.

There are a lot of bed-and-breakfasts, but we need to get out of that concept.

It makes a big difference when you are inviting people," said Tilahun.

Architects and developers yesterday gave an assurance that current activities such as informal trading, the taxi rank and parking spaces will all be incorporated in the new development.

In this vein, consideration had also been given to incorporating existing structures and features such as the Supreme Court building, the Zoo Park and Independence Avenue into the design.

"We would like to create a building that is modern, but very African in style.

We would like to support the informal traders.

They will give it a lot of life and it will be good for tourism", said architect Henk Boogertman of the South African firm Boogertman Urban Edge Partners.

The total area of the complex after completion will be approximately 64 000 square metres.

Underground parking will provide space for 1 900 vehicles.

"We believe it will be the prime address in town.

It will definitely be a landmark area that you won't be able to miss," said Boogertman.

Over the next three years, the project expects to provide employment for 1 500 Namibians in the building industry.

Tilahun said he was not concerned about financing the project, as investors have expressed much interest, particularly for office blocks.

"It's a tangible investment which will give good returns.

The buildings are tenant driven," said Tilahun.

United Africa Group bought the property from the Windhoek Municipality last year for N$10 million.

A Malaysian company, Freedom Square, won a tender in 1995 to buy and develop the property, but after entering into a preliminary deed of sale with the municipality for N$15 million and paying N$2 million as a deposit, its plans fell through.

It had planned to build a five-star hotel to lure Asian and Pacific tourists.

Tilahun and his wife, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, were appointed as directors in place of the Malaysians last year.

Stratford Property Ventures, currently involved in the extension of Maerua Mall, will also develop the Eliakim Namundjebo Plaza.

The United Africa Group has business interests in the services, hospitality and property sectors.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  'DRC refugee' arrested at airport
•  Keetmanshoop grapples with debt, at odds with Receiver
•  Namibia plagued by gender-based violence
•  'Struggle Kids' are happy campers
•  Teachers 'plot to kill' principal
•  Zero tolerance for road hogs
•  Nujoma Foundation raises N$300 000 at gala dinner
•  Young man sent to jail for killing older brother
•  Three die in lorry crash
•  Henties Bay 'in a mess'
•  High Court upholds labour-hire ban
•  Oshakati nervously eyes the sky
•  Shamil Dirk's graft case postponed again
•  ACC nabs Otavi Village Council CEO
•  Justice driver accused of looting
•  Job equity has improved
•  Ombudsman complains about Justice Ministry
•  New plan for Cuvelai Basin
•  APP postpones congress
•  Zim to ignore tribunal ruling
•  Immigration locks up SA journalist
•  Youth gets four years for rape
•  Swapo closes ranks