Kamutjonga — The inauguration of the multi-million dollar fisheries institute in the Kavango Region has been postponed to next month.

The N$60 million Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI) is located in the Mukwe Constituency of the Kavango Region, and was initially scheduled for inauguration this month.

This was postponed to May 10.

Acting chief biologist in the Kavango Region Herald Kabeb confirmed this to Nampa yesterday, but could not elaborate on reasons for the delay.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba is expected to inaugurate the Fisheries Institute.

The institute will be used for research and development of freshwater fisheries.

Phase one of the multi-million-dollar institute has already been completed, while the second phase is scheduled for completion sometime later this year.

Government earlier announced that N$9 million had been allocated to the project during the 2007/08 financial year.

Government has hailed the fisheries institute as a development to ensure job creation and increase food security in the country.

Various community-based aquaculture projects have been established in the region, namely Karovo, Shipapo waMbambangandu and Mpungu.