FRANCIS XOAGUB THERE is a buzz of excitement accompanying the Leonardville Village Council’s official opening of a Namibian-German Special Initiative (NGSIP)-funded multi-purpose cultural centre and campsite.
The centre, which is expected to create much-needed employment and ignite efforts to develop community tourism, has been wholeheartedly welcomed by Rudolf Shomongula, Leonardville Village Council chairperson.
The NGSIP, in partnership with the village council and the multi-purpose cultural centre committee, constructed it for N$3,4 million.
“The centre must reflect our culture, which has overcome centuries of adversity. It must reflect our resilience. It must reflect our boldness to stand up for ourselves. It must be as attractive as the people of Leonardville, who have built an enviable reputation. This building must be a beacon of hope to all those who will seek comfort in its halls and future development projects. It must be a hall to institutionalise our trailblazers,” Shomongula said.
The centre aims to bring cultural and social activities closer to the community, he noted.
Leonardville is situated in the Aminuis constituency in the Omaheke region. This poverty-stricken village has a high rate of unemployment. There are no recreational facilities, except the sports ground, and this has resulted in cases of substance abuse within the community.
According to Shomongula, the only places creating employment at the village is the council, the Kalahari Weavers and its one-stop fuel service station and a shopping centre.
“The opening of this centre is like throwing a diamond to the community as it will create hope for future development,” he enthused.
The need for the multi-purpose centre at Leonardville was identified and requested by the community in a project proposal submitted to the NGSIP for funding.
It was seen as a necessity to assist in luring children away from crimes on the streets, reducing substance abuse in the community, especially among the youth, and also in creating employment, and serving the community at large by offering various activities that they can engage in.
Shomongula said the development committee resolved that the village council would take ownership of the centre as it has the means to maintain it, especially after the NGSIP programme officially handed it over.
“To sustain the further development of this centre, we want to bring in a number of wildlife, especially as you are exiting the town, in order to lure tourists and visitors to stay over and camp, or use facilities such as the internet or be entertained by cultural activities,” he added.
He said the government could also provide transport, which the centre can use for sightseeing tours to neighbouring farms where there is a great variety of wildlife.
“The community will enter into discussions with these farmers to allow such visits to take place as part of the centre’s activities,” he explained.
Multipurpose centre chairperson Veronica Nunuhes said despite an increase in the number of stop-over tourists, who have been passing through the village, and government workers who frequent the area, the lack of accommodation there has been a serious drawback.
The centre will also be used for computer training, a soup kitchen and recreational facilities for children, while at the same time offering local women a convenient venue to sell their hand-made articles to tourists.
As she herself has some skills and training in needlework, Nunuhes intends setting up a needlework department or a training unit for women at the centre, with the main objective of participating at trade fairs nationally.
Community member Wilhemina Witbooi welcomed the facility’s establishment, saying it will not only encourage more young people to participate in its activities, but will also allow them to engage in recreational activities, away from the streets.
“This is an excellent example of the type of partnership for development that we need at this village. The impact and value of this centre to fighting unemployment and to creating a positive shift in social norms is just enormous,” stated Witbooi, who is also a community activist. She said the proceeds from the centre will support orphans and vulnerable children, as well as the elderly and other community-related projects.
“That way, we will also plough back into the community,” she added.
One of the initiators of the project and project animator, Tobias Kamberipa, said the main objective was self-sustenance.
He said apart from the centre, the NGSIP has also given livestock to the community, but the animals died due to drought.
The centre will soon be handed over to the community at an official opening ceremony.
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