State of Region Address 22 June 2017
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STATE OF REGION ADDRESS 2017 BY HON. C. MUTJAVIKUA GOVERNOR OF ERONGO REGION @ Mondesa Multi-purpose Centre 22nd June 2017 1 Honourable Hafeni Ludwig Ndemula Chairman of the Regional Council and the Constituency Councillor of the Walvis Bay Urban Constituency; Hounorable Regional Councillors; Her Worship the Mayor of the International Holyday Resort of Swakopmund and all other Mayors Present here today; All the Local Authority Councillors; Special Advisor to the Governor; Commander of the Police in Erongo; The Air Base Commander; The Navy Commander; Regional Heads of the various Ministries and Government Agencies ; All Traditional leaders; Captains of Industries; The Chief Regional Officer 2 All Chief Executive Officers Present; The SWAPO Party Co-ordinator and other Co-ordinators of the various political parties of our Multi-Party Democracy; All Religious Leaders; Members of our vibrant media in Erongo Region; Ladies and Gentlemen 1. INTRODUCTION The global and regional economic environment has continued to deteriorate since the beginning of 2015, characterized by low commodity prices, weak global demand and volatile exchange rates which presented challenges to the Government of the Republic of Namibia. Our national growth rate will be low and moderate as the headwinds of global demands and prices for our key commodities like Uranium which had been severely affected will have a serious impact. On the port and logistic side, our country had been negatively affected by the down-turn in global economy and the decrease in the envisaged level of export and import volume from mainly our land lock neighbors. Currently, our country is recovering well from the serious drought of the last three years. Thanking the Almighty for His mercy as our region received good rain during the last season. 3 It is worth mentioning that our country is battling dramatic rise in debt stock over the past two years due to large budget deficit. The actions taken so far to bring the deficit under control is highly commendable. Actions that had been taken ensured that the country still retains its investment grade rating. 2. ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT 2.1 EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND SME DEVELOPMENT The NYC successfully trained 72 unemployed youth from Swakopmund and Walvisbay during 2016 in basic Entrepreneurship competencies. This Scheme integrates basic business management training, loan assistance, monitoring and evaluation as well as aftercare services such as mentoring and exposure. After the completion of the training the trainees received soft loans as start-up capital to create employment opportunities for themselves and for the fellow youth. TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL LOAN YOUTH TOTAL JOBS ENTERPRISE TOTAL LOANS TOTAL AMOUNT OF RECIPIENTS TRAINED CREATED CREATED DISBURSED LOANS REVOLVED 431 617 442 431 N$1,384, 121.28 N$ 402 800.00 For Example: Okombahe Youth Bakery is the brain-child of ten unemployed young residents of the settlement formed and registered as a Cooperative. The project staff received training from Namib Mills in Windhoek on how to bake and run a bakery successfully. The project was made possible by N$ 200 000 assistance from the NYC. This project plans to employ seven young people and will become operational soon, once electricity is connected to the building. 4 EDF – Micro Credit Scheme The credit scheme was initiated through support from Rössing Foundation, Erongo Regional Council, and Bank Windhoek. The purpose of the credit scheme is to provide affordable finance to small businesses in Erongo Region. The project had assisted close to 65 beneficiaries. The success rate of repayment is close to 85% The risk of default is shared in the following manner: 60% EDF investment 30% the bank 10% by the beneficiary Currently the Fund had selected 70 beneficiaries (10 per constituency) with the approximate value of N$ 750 000.00. An overall of 60% are allocated to women and young people. The Beneficiaries receives the following: Two year payback period Regular visits from EDF to assist them with challenges. Get a percentage back of the funds borrowed if they do not default ( incentive to payback) Get certificate of completion after paying back. This serves as creditability for future support by financial institution. 5 2.2 INVESTMENT African Delhi (Pty) Ltd – Beef Mogodu tripe An N$70 million commercial 'matangara' delicacy enterprise, African Deli under the management of Namibia’s own Mr. Bobboh Kathindi, was launched recently in Walvisbay. The business is certified by the Namibian Standards Institution and will employ 55 people. Green Scheme and crop Production in the Namib Desert The Office of the Governor is working with investors on desert agriculture and seawater optimal utilization Projects. Desert Rose The Project is in full swing despite resistance from some environmentalists and concern groups. Final Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report had been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for approval. This project is expected to create 5000 job opportunities in the first five years and secure major international investment for Namibia. Total direct and indirect jobs alone will be 1617 by 2021. 6 Provide opportunity to involve SME’s and enhance government-private sector relations. Contribute to taxes is set to exceed N$663mil by 2021. Solar Energy Karibib-Solar Energy, an N$120 million solar power plant was launched at Karibib OLC Arandis Solar Energy, 3 megawatt solar in Arandis. Group Isidoro The Office of the Governor and ERC, in collaboration with an international investor, is in the process to: Establish cheese factories at Uis, Okombahe and Otjimbingwe which will benefit the farmers in these rural areas and beyond. Construct a Medical University Hospital in Arandis ; Construct a Satelite Hospital in Henties Bay ; Construct a Clinic and Nurses Training Institute in the Settlement of Okombahe Establish a training department of hospitality at NIMT 7 New Shopping Mall Platzammeer Shopping Mall in Swakopmund N$650m Dunes Mall in Walvis Bay 2.3 PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT Erongo Regional Council Capital projects are carried out using the state funds that are budgeted under the Development budget, in line with the HPP and NDP5. The table below indicates the capital projects that were carried out as from 2014/15 to date. TOTAL COST PROJECT NAME STATUS SPENT (N$) Fencing sewerage ponds - Uis Completed 574,771.28 Construction access of road and re-gravelling Okombahe Completed 603,069.31 Construction of Oxidation Ponds Phase1: Omatjete Completed 4,699,540.63 8 Surveying of Okombahe Proper Ext. 1 Completed 660,834.65 Surveying of Wlotzkasbaken Completed 55,756.20 Provision of Pre-Paid Water System : Uis – ( +/- 200 erven) Completed 10,143,625.56 Grading of Streets - Otjimbingwe Completed 4,979,330.40 Construction of Zeraeua Traditional Authority Office - Omatjete Completed 5,068,855.29 Omaruru Poultry Project - Social projects that benefits 63 households Ongoing 126,214.28 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 26,911,997.60 GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: Projects implemented during 2016 in collaboration with the SWAKOP URANIUM FOUNDATION: Otjimbingwe /Homdare Kindergarten Cement for selected schools and construction of manhole for Otjohorongo P.S. Hostel 140,000.00 120,648.97 120,000.00 100,000.00 80,000.00 60,648.97 60,000.00 60,000.00 Series1 40,000.00 20,000.00 0.00 Otjimbingwe Cement for Schools & Total Kindergarten Manhole 9 Governors regional development programme in partnership with the NAMSOV COMMUNITY TRUST – 2016/2017 Funds received (2016/2017) : N$ 500,000.00 No. of Projects funded : 22 Funds Used : N$ 488,621.48 AREAS OF PROJECT FUNDING 250,000.00 213,634.28 200,000.00 150,000.00 154,980.00 Series1 100,000.00 96,497.20 50,000.00 23,510.00 - Community Education Economic Sports Development Development Initiatives 10 Seaflower White Fish Corporation Dividend Amount received – N$ 357 142.85 Amount used: Namibian Newspaper Cup 2017 - N$ 241 705.00 Request for project proposals to be funded currently advertised for: i. Assembling of radios and calculators ii. Manufacturing of kitchen utensils 3. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 3.1 CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS/HOSTEL/TEACHER’S ACCOMMODATION Below is a list of construction and renovation undertaken in the 2016/17 FY. 1 Flamingo SS Construction of Admin block 100% Kuisebmund Project 2 School Construction of Admin block 100% 3 Okongue PS Construction of pre-fabricated teachers' flat 70% Construction of 2 pre-fabricated classrooms 100% Renovation of 3 teachers' houses and 4 Otjohorongo PS Construction of septic tank 100% 5 Ebenhaezer PS Construction of 4 pre-fabricated classrooms 100% 6 Ubasen PS Construction of 4 pre-fabricated classrooms 100% 7 Karibib JSS Construction of 2 pre-fabricated classrooms 100% 8 Otjimbingwe PS Construction of 2 pre-fabricated classrooms 100% 9 Omaruru PS Construction of 1 pre-fabricated classroom 100% 10 Ozondati PS Construction of 1 pre-fabricated classroom 100% 11 Coastal HS Construction of 4 classrooms 100% 12 Tutaleni PS Construction of 2 classrooms 100% 3.2 CLINICS AND HEALTH CENTRES The Construction of the clinic at Utuseb is nearing completion 11 3.3 MAWF DAPEES constructed an Agricultural Development Centre (ADC) and a staff house at Tubusis in Daures Constituency. The project started on the 26th August 2016 and will cost N$ 3.678 Million. The project created employment to 32 people (29M and 3F) Construction of Tubusis ADC is at its final stage. 3.4 ROADS/BRIDGES/RAILWAYS/AIRPORTS/HARBOURS Construction of Railways: Namibia Ports Authority constructed a new railway line of 2.25 km at the cost of N$30million as part of the Walvis Bay Port Expansion and the construction of the new container terminal. Construction of Roads and Bridges a) Upgrading of MR 44 (90km), Phase I, Section A (Swakopmund to Hentiesbay) and construction period is 28 months b) Upgrading of MR 44 and MR 36 (30km) to Freeway Standards, Phase I (TR 2/2 to Farm 58: Swakopmund to Walvisbay) and construction period is 36 months.