The people of Impalila and surrounding areas in the Zambezi region will be able to increase the number of hours in which they can undertake economic activities because their areas are now connected to the national electricity network, president Hage Geingob said this week.
Speaking at the inauguration of the power line connecting Impalila Island at the eastern end of Zambezi to the national electricity network, Geingob said the electrification of the area will benefit businesses and boost the tourism industry that has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Electricity is an essential driver of socio-economic development,” Geingob said at the inauguration on Tuesday. “It powers machinery, fuels businesses, lights our homes and enables us to stay connected to our families and the world at large.”
He further said the electrification of all regions and areas within Namibia will contribute greatly towards meeting the goals the country has set for itself.
Geingob urged the people of Impalila Island to use their new power resources wisely.
Many rural areas in Zambezi are still faced with various challenges, especially a lack of electricity. Most rural communities, have limited access to electricity and depend mostly on solar energy.
Also speaking at the inauguration ceremony, NamPower managing director Simson Haulofu said the national power company is proud to invest in Namibia and her people.
He recounted that the contract for the construction of the power line to Impalila was handed over to the contractor in September 2019 and the initial completion date was November 2020. Due to high flood levels in June last year and the Covid-19 state of emergency and subsequent lockdown the project completion date was affected and the line was completed in September this year.
“To the community of Mbalasinte, Kasika and Impalila I would like to express my gratitude for your patience in waiting for this service for all these years and I am sure the presence of this service will change your lives for the better,” Haulofu said.
He further said NamPower aims to continue working with the government and other parties to realise the electrification and socio-economic development of rural Namibia by expanding electrical infrastructure.
On behalf of community leaders of the area, Albius Kamwi stated that three local areas – Mbalasinte, Kasika and Impalila – benefited from the project.
“Impalila requested a number of developments, one of them was to provide electricity in our rural area – here is one of our requests,” said Kamwi.
