Karas Region welcomes envisaged ‘movie town’

KARAS Region inhabitants have welcomed the envisaged U$120 million film and tourism facilities that Desert Star Studios plan to set up at the farm Komsberg along the Orange River.

However, people who attended a socio-economic impact assessment meeting at Keetmanshoop on Tuesday demanded that the region’s inhabitants be put first in line to benefit from the project. Acting Bondelswarts Chief Josef Christian stressed that the region’s inhabitants must get optimal benefits in terms of potential jobs and shares allocations. ‘We do not want to see a situation where people from other regions are ferried to the South to benefit from the project,’ said Christiaan. Christiaan also demanded a meeting with the Desert Star Studios leadership to discuss the issues of jobs and shares before the project became operational. Swapo Party Youth League information and mobilisation officer Clinton Swartbooi, who spoke in his capacity as a businessman originally from the Karas Region, also stressed the engagement of southerners in the project. He added that investors should not assume there were no skills in information technology, catering or acting in Namibia and in the South to fill positions in the film and tourism industry.’We warn that Namibia, and in particular the South, should not be seen as land contributors only,’ Swartbooi said. Referring to the recent appointment of NWR MD Tobie Aupindi as Desert Start Studios’ non-executive director, Swartbooi said in relation to the tourism industry: ‘We have divided opinion on whether they would make good contributions’. Responding to concerns about the project’s viability, the consultants Desert Stars Studios had enlisted to conduct the socio-economic impact assessment assured residents that the venture was ‘low risk’.The consultants also promised to look into how the economic activities of surrounding towns such as Karasburg and Ariamsvlei would be affected by the creation of a film hub on the Komsberg plateau. Karas Regional Council planning director Joseph Stephanus said Government had expressed support for the project and granted provisional proclamation status to the 24-hectare location.luqman@namibian.com.na

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