Oshakati tables N$186 million budget

THE Oshakati Town Council has been asked to approve a budget with projected spending of N$186,1 million for the 2020/21 financial year.

In the local authority’s proposed budget, a total amount of N$57,3 million is to be spent on capital projects during the 2020/21 financial year. The council’s income is projected to amount to N$186,1 million – the same amount as its expenditure – during the same period.

Oshakati mayor Angelius Iiyambo said during the budget presentation on Wednesday that the local authority’s spending plans for the next financial year was prepared at a difficult time when the council is faced with huge challenges such as high unpaid municipal bills and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We know that Oshakati is one of the severely affected towns in Namibia when it comes to flooding, hence council has allocated N$15 million towards the construction of storm-water channels around the town. Storm-water channels are aimed at diverting water from residential erven, businesses and industrial erven into the oshana pans.

“Onawa is currently being serviced and the projects will continue to the coming financial year whereby N$8 million has been set aside for construction of services at Onawa Extension five and six. The entire process to relocate Sky location to Onawa will cost council about N$1,5 million,” said Iiyambo.

Iiyambo continued that the council will embark on a project aimed at providing more serviced land to residents of Oshakati for the construction of middle to low-cost housing. In doing so, the council has allocated N$6 million towards the construction of bulk services and sewer reticulation at Ompumbu.

An amount of N$4 million is set aside for the construction of sewerage and a sewer pump at Evululuko phase two, while N$3 million has been allocated for the provision of electrical installations for households at Okandjengedi Extension 15 and Okandjengedi South.

“Currently Oshakati has a dumpsite which is not entirely recommended as per the Environmental Act of Namibia, hence, council has allocated a total of N$1,8 million towards the construction of a landfill site. Another N$2 million has been allocated towards recreational facilities and sports grounds whereby the Carribean swimming pool will be revamped. Part of these funds will also be used to construct a children’s playground and braai areas at Ekuku Park,” he said.