NEW LIFE

THE recently renovated Kabelmesse historical building at Swakopmund was inaugurated by Minister John Mutorwa of Basic Education, Sport and Culture last week.

The building, which was built in 1901, houses the Teachers’ Resource Centre and Circuit Office of the Ministry. It was originally built for the Eastern and South African Telegraphic Company as headquarters for its employees who installed an underwater cable from Europe to Cape Town.When the cable was severed early in World War I, the building became a hostel for officers.In the 1970s it was handed to the then department of education and served as a hostel for boys taking part in an outdoor school programme.In 1992 the Khorixas Education Region took over the building and converted it into a Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC).The German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) made N$500 000 available for the renovation of the building as part of its support to education in the country.Apart from the TRC, the building today houses a literacy office, Ombetja Yehinga, and the Regional Aids Committee.It was originally built for the Eastern and South African Telegraphic Company as headquarters for its employees who installed an underwater cable from Europe to Cape Town.When the cable was severed early in World War I, the building became a hostel for officers.In the 1970s it was handed to the then department of education and served as a hostel for boys taking part in an outdoor school programme.In 1992 the Khorixas Education Region took over the building and converted it into a Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC).The German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) made N$500 000 available for the renovation of the building as part of its support to education in the country.Apart from the TRC, the building today houses a literacy office, Ombetja Yehinga, and the Regional Aids Committee.