2006 ‘a good year’ for Ongwediva

THE year 2006 in Ongwediva was marked by activities on the political, economic and social fronts that again endorsed Ongwediva as one of the fastest growing towns in Namibia, says the Mayor of Ongwediva, Erastus Uutoni.

Uutoni said these developments included the election of Ongwediva to the Presidency of the Namibia National Mayors’ Forum, the commissioning of various multi-million-dollar infrastructure investments and the successful hosting of the bigger, improved Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. “On local authority level, the Ongwediva Town Council, through the unwavering support of its business sector, development partners and the public at large, has taken the lead as one of the notable local authorities in Namibia in all spheres of improved service delivery and local economic development,” Uutoni told a recent press conference.He said the Council had worked hard at achieving its vision and had succeeded in improving service delivery and equitable development at Ongwediva.According to Uutoni, some of the achievements were the commissioning of the Namcol regional head office at Ongwediva, the commissioning of Bennie’s Entertainment Park, the opening of the Ongwediva Business Park and the first private hospital in the northwest regions, the opening of the Puukali Commercial Centre, the relocation of NaTis offices to a modern and convenient one-stop centre, the construction of industrial centres in Extension 12 of Ongwediva, the emergence of the hospitality industry in Ongwediva, the development of aquaculture and private investments of about N$80 million in the housing, business, industrial and social sectors.Uutoni said to complement the efforts of the private sector, the Ongwediva Town Council had successfully implemented projects such as the N$24 million Extension 11 development project, financed partly through a N$20 million loan from the Development Bank of Namibia.The development was about 80 per cent complete and erven were already being sold, he said.The completion date of the project is set for April.Other projects included township establishment and the opening of a Deeds Registry at extensions 2, 14 and 15, planning and township establishment at extensions 16 and 17, animal control in the town and the formulation and implementation of a local economic development policy.Uutoni said the Council’s plans for the year ahead included upgrading roads, especially Auguste Williams Taanyanda Road and developing a second open market at Extension 13.Other plans were the provision of electricity to Extensions 5 and 12 and the provision of water to Reception Area Phase 3.Because crime was one of the challenges faced by the Council, Uutoni said he had approached the Ministry of Safety and Security to set up a Police station at the town.Another problem confronting the municipality was a loss of revenue as a result of the establishment of regional electricity distributors (REDs).Uutoni said the creation of REDs and in particular Nored and its current operating structure, left much to be desired.He said Nored did not contribute to infrastructure development, and took the lion’s share of income derived from infrastructure put up by the Council.No Government subsidies were forthcoming to fill this gap and as a result the Council was in dire need of development capital.Other challenges were the high unemployment at Ongwediva and the high rate of HIV infection.”On local authority level, the Ongwediva Town Council, through the unwavering support of its business sector, development partners and the public at large, has taken the lead as one of the notable local authorities in Namibia in all spheres of improved service delivery and local economic development,” Uutoni told a recent press conference.He said the Council had worked hard at achieving its vision and had succeeded in improving service delivery and equitable development at Ongwediva.According to Uutoni, some of the achievements were the commissioning of the Namcol regional head office at Ongwediva, the commissioning of Bennie’s Entertainment Park, the opening of the Ongwediva Business Park and the first private hospital in the northwest regions, the opening of the Puukali Commercial Centre, the relocation of NaTis offices to a modern and convenient one-stop centre, the construction of industrial centres in Extension 12 of Ongwediva, the emergence of the hospitality industry in Ongwediva, the development of aquaculture and private investments of about N$80 million in the housing, business, industrial and social sectors.Uutoni said to complement the efforts of the private sector, the Ongwediva Town Council had successfully implemented projects such as the N$24 million Extension 11 development project, financed partly through a N$20 million loan from the Development Bank of Namibia.The development was about 80 per cent complete and erven were already being sold, he said.The completion date of the project is set for April.Other projects included township establishment and the opening of a Deeds Registry at extensions 2, 14 and 15, planning and township establishment at extensions 16 and 17, animal control in the town and the formulation and implementation of a local economic development policy.Uutoni said the Council’s plans for the year ahead included upgrading roads, especially Auguste Williams Taanyanda Road and developing a second open market at Extension 13.Other plans were the provision of electricity to Extensions 5 and 12 and the provision of water to Reception Area Phase 3.Because crime was one of the challenges faced by the Council, Uutoni said he had approached the Ministry of Safety and Security to set up a Police station at the town.Another problem confronting the municipality was a loss of revenue as a result of the establishment of regional electricity distributors (REDs).Uutoni said the creation of REDs and in particular Nored and its current operating structure, left much to be desired.He said Nored did not contribute to infrastructure development, and took the lion’s share of income derived from infrastructure put up by the Council.No Government subsidies were forthcoming to fill this gap and as a result the Council was in dire need of development capital.Other challenges were the high unemployment at Ongwediva and the high rate of HIV infection.