Putting the olive into Okombahe

THERE are ‘ambitious plans’ to make Okombahe, in the Daures Constituency of the Erongo Region, the ‘mecca of olive industry in Namibia’.

So said Erongo Governor, Cleophas Mutjavikua, during the handover of the Damara People’s House from Government to the !Oë ≠Gân Traditional Authority about two weeks ago.’Okombahe, during the next four and a half years, will see a facelift that it has not seen in the past. We are under instruction from the President [Hifikepunye Pohamba] to deliver all necessary services and ensure development in those areas lacking it,’ he said.According to Mutjavikua that work has already started in implementing the industry.’We are not just talking plantations here, but an entire olive industry, with processing infrastructure too. It will be a tough project and therefore we need the support from the community,’ he said.He pointed out that much land will be needed for the project – ‘only in Okombahe, and nowhere else’.The ‘olive mecca’ is envisioned to supply olive oil, table olives and other olive products to the country.He said that there’s been no development at Okambahe since Independence, but now that ‘a progressive party’ has taken over as leaders, the community would see that development will take place.’It will take time for the people to see this realised, but they will see,’ he said.