Unam gets land to expand Katima campus

THE Katima Mulilo Town Council has donated land to the University of Namibia for the institution to expand its campus.

Katima Mulilo mayor Georgina Mwiya this week said the 33 hectare plot is situated on prime land within walking distance from the Zambezi River.

Mwiya said the expansion of the campus will enable the institution to introduce more programmes.

‘This is history in the making. This donation is in the spirit of the Harambee plan. With this gesture from the Katima Mulilo town council, we are confident that more study programmes will be introduced at the campus. This land must be used to build permanent structures, and not be left idle,’ she noted.

Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu used the platform to urge Unam vice chancellor Lazarus Hangula to introduce a new degree programme in water management at the Katima Mulilo campus.

He said the Zambezi region is the ideal place to implement such a programme as it has flood prone areas where research and studies can be done.

‘Water management is the way to go. Parts of Zambezi are currently affected by floods. Surely with the programme in water management, our own experts will know how to make use of this water such as diverting it for agricultural, livestock or human consumption,’ Sampofu said.

Accepting the donation, Hangula said Unam will look into the request as there is a serious need for the abundant water to be diverted and used for developmental purposes.

Hangula said the region also has the potential for opening a rice project due to the surplus water in the area, unlike in the dry southern parts of Namibia.

‘We need to develop and harness natural resources. I believe that Unam can also introduce a veterinary programme here so that our people can sustain themselves on livestock and crop farming,’ he added.

Hangula said Unam plans on using the donated land in the next six to eight months.

mdash; Nampa