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Namibia: President Visits Caprivi
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New Era (Windhoek)
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Reagan Malumo
Katima Mulilo
President Hifikepunye Pohamba arrived at M'pacha Airport at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region on Wednesday afternoon to jointly commission the N$96 million Victoria Falls/Katima Mulilo transmission power line today.
The President and his Zambian counterpart, Levy Mwanawasa, would today commission the power line. On his arrival at M'pacha Airport, he was received by a high-ranking regional delegation comprising the Caprivi Regional Governor, Leonard Mwilima, the regional and local authority councillors, Swapo Party Regional Coordinator, Ignitius Nkunga, heads of ministries and non-governmental organisations. The President held two closed-door meetings with the Swapo Party regional executive committee and regional and local authority councillors. He was also flown to the flood-stricken areas to acquaint himself with the flood situation in the region.
He was expected to pay official visits to Chief George Simasiku Mamili of the Mafwe Traditional Authority, Chief Kisco Liswani III of the Masubia Tribal Authority, Chief Josef Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional Authority and Chief Boniface Lutibezi Shifu of the Mayeyi Traditional Authority, whose palace is at Sangwali.
Welcoming the President to the region, Governor Mwilima highlighted numerous challenges that are eroding the region's social fabric. These include the food shortages due to the devastation of crops by floods. The food shortage would affect an estimated 20000 people in the region. The situation was made worse by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that has severely affected the regional economy and cut-off one of the primary income sources for subsistence farmers.
According to Mwilima, poor road infrastructure in the town of Katima Mulilo, unreliable provision of electricity supply, lack of office accommodation for regional council offices, telecommunication systems, sports facilities, and information technology infrastructures are some of the problems that are causing economic decay.
Meanwhile, despite these challenges, Mwilima applauded the fact that the Government has made notable achievements in terms of economic development.
He referred to the construction of the Katima Mulilo-Sesheke Bridge, development of the Trans Caprivi Highway, gravelling and rehabilitation of several gravel roads in the region, the construction of the Multi-purpose Youth Resources Centre, and Katima Mulilo Open Market, as well as the fast-growing aquaculture industry that has led to the establishment of fish farms at Kalimbeza, Litapi, Linkunganelo, and Schuckmansburg, as some of the notable economic development the region has witnessed so far. He said plans are underway to increase fish production and commercialise the fishing industry in the region.
He also briefed the President about the multi-million dollar Waterfront Construction Project, the implementation of large-scale agriculture projects such as the sugar cane plantation, the bio-fuel plant - the jatropha curcas - and the green scheme saying although they are moving at a low pace, they are anticipated to be in full swing in the near future thus, paving the way for poverty reduction, employment creation and economic growth. He said the transformation of Bukalo into a settlement, which would make it the second town in the region, is one, but a commendable achievement.
Mwilima further explained that although the region's proximity to neighbouring countries has made it prone to trans-boundary diseases, it still stands as a gateway to major SADC countries such as Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe giving it extra opportunities.
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"The regional diversity in natural resources and its proximity to prominent international tourism destinations such as the Victoria Falls poses great economic potentials through ecotourism activities even though this industry is not yet fully exploited," explained Mwilima.
Mwilima was pleased with the Government's efforts aimed at substantially addressing the energy crises that in previous years have hindered development in the region by linking Caprivi to the Zambian energy grid. He also applauded the Government for considering to source additional energy supply from Hwange, in Zimbabwe.
Mwilima called on the Government to decentralise the national youth service and to establish more vocational training centres in the region to accommodate jobless youths.
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