Warmbad hot springs project progressing well

KEETMANSHOOP – Tenders for the N$2,5 million Warmbad Hot springs development project would go out soon with local people encouraged to participate.

The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) is acting as consultants of the community development project and has already provided the steering committee with specifications on the project. The Warmbad Hot springs project is aimed at alleviating the level of poverty at the impoverished southern village.A meeting by various stakeholders in the project decided at a meeting held in Windhoek last week that tender procedures should be relaxed largely to accommodate local communities.In a report to the Karas Regional Council on Friday, the council’s Regional Executive Officer (REC), Salmaan Jacobs said it was also decided that local materials would largely be used in the construction of structures such as bungalows, backpackers lodges and camping sites.Traditional Nama structures would also form the basis of the project.The project is expected to be completed by the end of November 2004.The hot springs that plays a crucial part in the history of the Bondelswarts Namas was returned to the community recently after it was in the hands of a foreign businessman from just before Independence.The Namibian government has committed itself to ensure that the million dollar complex becomes a reality and is the main sponsoring agent while the German and American Embassies expressed their willingness to assist where possible.Warmbad is situated some 50 kilometres south of Karasburg.-NampaThe Warmbad Hot springs project is aimed at alleviating the level of poverty at the impoverished southern village.A meeting by various stakeholders in the project decided at a meeting held in Windhoek last week that tender procedures should be relaxed largely to accommodate local communities.In a report to the Karas Regional Council on Friday, the council’s Regional Executive Officer (REC), Salmaan Jacobs said it was also decided that local materials would largely be used in the construction of structures such as bungalows, backpackers lodges and camping sites.Traditional Nama structures would also form the basis of the project.The project is expected to be completed by the end of November 2004.The hot springs that plays a crucial part in the history of the Bondelswarts Namas was returned to the community recently after it was in the hands of a foreign businessman from just before Independence.The Namibian government has committed itself to ensure that the million dollar complex becomes a reality and is the main sponsoring agent while the German and American Embassies expressed their willingness to assist where possible.Warmbad is situated some 50 kilometres south of Karasburg.-Nampa