Arandis needs ‘serious’ development

ARANDIS Mayor, Daniel Muhuura, has appealed to mining companies to help establish a trust fund into which a percentage of their profits can be utilised for development projects in the town.

‘The reason why Arandis is struggling and why there is still poverty in the town is because there is inadequate funding from Government – or companies – to assist in the servicing of land,’ he said.He called on existing and prospective mining companies, like Rössing Uranium, Areva’s Trekkopje Mine and the Valencia Uranium Mines, as well as others, to establish a community development trust fund to ensure the future well-being of the community. He also urged Government ‘to pay more attention to Arandis’, in supporting the servicing of land.’We have all the required infrastructure and the town is ideally situated to achieve this objective. What Arandis can offer these investors is industrial land outside the corrosion belt to set up warehouses, depots and manufacturing plants. This land is situated in the vicinity of the railway lines, close to the Arandis airport, thus making import and export activities easily available,’ he said.’Arandis can offer many opportunities, and I appeal to serious developers to join hands with us in the development of the town,’ he said.Muhuura said the town was already in the third year of implementing its first five-year strategic plan, but there were still many challenges.Some of the successes included the establishment of ‘Extention 2’, comprised of 280 residential, business and industrial erven, with the addition of two other sections that included a further 900 erven for mixed development. There was also the establishment of a mathematics and science centre, and agricultural projects that included mushroom production and other hydroponic projects.Construction of the first phase of the Arandis Trade Complex, offering business space to entrepreneurs has also recently begun, according to the Mayor.In order to keep the community abreast of developments and to create a platform for the community to air their views and concerns, the Vision Arandis community newsletter has been established.adam@namibian.com.na