OTJOZONDJUPA governor Otto Ipinge on Wednesday urged business people who want to invest at Kalkfeld settlement to approach his office for free erven.
Ipinge made the call at a community meeting held at Kalkfeld, where future plans and development activities were discussed.
Situated about 70 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo, Kalkfeld was proclaimed a village in 1991, and then downgraded to a settlement in 1996 due to lack of economic development.
“We want to give free business plots to genuine business people who will set up businesses that will activate the economic growth of the settlement,” Ipinge said.
He also encouraged the residents to cooperate with his office and all ministries intending to invest in the settlement or create employment opportunities for locals with a plan to stimulate economic development.
“We want development, and we want to grow it to a big town,” he stressed.
Otjiwarongo constituency councillor Julius Neumbo told the more than 200 people at the meeting to play their part by keeping the settlement clean, and paying their rates and taxes to the Otjozondjupa regional council, which runs the settlement.
“We are determined to positively change the face of Kalkfeld,” he added.
A farmer and successful businessman in the Kalkfeld area, Gunther Karl, who also attended the meeting, promised to invest in the settlement by reopening the Kalkfeld fuel station which closed down in mid-2018.
“I have plans to also establish a charcoal production factory here, as well as a bottle and plastic recycling project,” he said.
Karl is part of the Ekundi Farming and Transport Company based at Otjiwarongo.
Kalkfeld community member, reverend Ngeno Nakamhela, on his part called on the Ministry of Works and Transport to support developmental efforts by leasing out some of its buildings to business people interested in opening businesses there.
Representatives from the works ministry, Namibian Police and the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor also attended the meeting.
– Nampa
