Swakopmunders eager to clean up town

MORE than 600 Swakopmund residents have already registered for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative launched by the Municipality.

Many more are expected to sign up for the two pilot projects before the deadline of November 15. “Most of these people are younger than 30 years, which is an indication of the high level of unemployment,” Freddy Kaukungua, PRO of the Municipality, told The Namibian.The Swakopmund Council finalised a PPP policy and approved the roll-out of the programme at its monthly meeting on Thursday.Councillor Priscilla Kavita praised the initiative, saying it would help unemployed people.Opposition Councillor Elifas //Khoaseb of the UDF invited the public to make use of the opportunity.Kaukungua said a street cleaning project and the cleaning of public toilets would serve as pilot projects for one year, starting on December 1.Residents are encouraged to register as groups with a maximum number of 13 people.By Friday 60 groups had already signed up.”We will draw up a shortlist of groups and interview them to decide on the final five groups,” said Kaukungua.Four groups will be required for the street sweeping project and one for the toilets.Only residents who have lived at Swakopmund for three years and longer qualify for registration.”This is a project for Swakopmunders and we want to make sure we help them,” said Kaukungua.Other criteria are that groups must include members of different language groups and be comprised mainly of women.He said the council would make equipment, such as spades, available to the groups, and training in business management would be provided to all registered groups.”Our aim is to enable community-based organisations to stand on their own feet one day.”He said the initiative had been very encouraging so far, as people were prepared to stand up and do something for themselves instead of just sitting and waiting to be helped.Should the pilot project prove successful, the municipality plans to contract out more municipal functions under the PPP initiative.Local authorities at Omaruru, Arandis, Walvis Bay and Windhoek have also launched PPP projects.”Most of these people are younger than 30 years, which is an indication of the high level of unemployment,” Freddy Kaukungua, PRO of the Municipality, told The Namibian.The Swakopmund Council finalised a PPP policy and approved the roll-out of the programme at its monthly meeting on Thursday.Councillor Priscilla Kavita praised the initiative, saying it would help unemployed people.Opposition Councillor Elifas //Khoaseb of the UDF invited the public to make use of the opportunity.Kaukungua said a street cleaning project and the cleaning of public toilets would serve as pilot projects for one year, starting on December 1.Residents are encouraged to register as groups with a maximum number of 13 people.By Friday 60 groups had already signed up.”We will draw up a shortlist of groups and interview them to decide on the final five groups,” said Kaukungua.Four groups will be required for the street sweeping project and one for the toilets.Only residents who have lived at Swakopmund for three years and longer qualify for registration.”This is a project for Swakopmunders and we want to make sure we help them,” said Kaukungua.Other criteria are that groups must include members of different language groups and be comprised mainly of women.He said the council would make equipment, such as spades, available to the groups, and training in business management would be provided to all registered groups.”Our aim is to enable community-based organisations to stand on their own feet one day.”He said the initiative had been very encouraging so far, as people were prepared to stand up and do something for themselves instead of just sitting and waiting to be helped.Should the pilot project prove successful, the municipality plans to contract out more municipal functions under the PPP initiative.Local authorities at Omaruru, Arandis, Walvis Bay and Windhoek have also launched PPP projects.