New Kalkfeld business complex still unoccupied

THE new Kalkfeld business park, which was constructed by the Namibia Development Corporation and leased to the Otjozondjupa Regional Council for a period of six years, is still unoccupied due to outstanding work.

Constructed at a cost of over N$14 million in 2012 and officially opened in 2014, the business complex has been leased by the regional council since October 2018, for free.

It consists of a petrol station, community business stalls, food court, public toilets and a shop, which will all be available for renting.

Otjozondjupa Regional Council chairperson Julius Neumbo said in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday that the main stumbling block to its operation is the installation of pre-paid electricity and water meters for each stall in the business complex.

“The regional council, now the custodian of the centre, is still looking for money to install those systems, and only then will we be in a position to allow tenants to operate from there,” he said.

Neumbo pointed out that the complex, especially the business stalls, no longer falls under NDC supervision as the stalls are officially leased to the Otjozondjupa Regional Council.

A 28-year-old resident, Christiano Divanga, on Wednesday called on the government through the office of Otjozondjupa regional governor to give Kalkfeld an economic boost by opening the business centre.

“The complex was built for a reason, and our governor should use that reason to force the responsible institutions to make the centre operational,” he said.

Elfriede Kharuxas, (54) also a resident at the settlement, said it is a shame for the government to spend millions on constructing a business centre for the community, only to have such an establishment turn into a white elephant.

Jackson Sabata (29) urged the Kalkfeld settlement office to hold meetings with residents for both parties to discuss the way forward for the centre.

Kalkfeld is situated about 70 kilometres west of Otjiwarongo.

It was proclaimed a village council in 1991, but downgraded to a settlement in 1996, reportedly because of a lack of development activities and growth.

– Nampa