• Oatf

Ongwediva on track with land delivery

The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), the town's economic flagship, is back in a hybrid format after not taking place for two years due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Ongwediva, situated south of Oshakati in the Oshana Region, has a population of 20 260 inhabitants. It has grown significantly in the past two decades and boasts modern urban facilities, including diverse private, commercial and public institutions. It has faced challenges and opportunities alike.

Namibian Sun met with the town’s spokesperson Jackson Muma, who described the town’s evolution over the years and what residents can expect going forward.

Muma reiterated the town’s vision to be the leading urban centre in Namibia, one that is built on "quality municipal services that promotes sustainable local development".



Land delivery

For the current financial year, Ongwediva council recorded 5 588 applications for erven.

Of those, 2 940 of the applicants were low-income earners, 715 were middle-income earners, and 1 933 were high-income earners.

"We received 29 applications for general residences and five for agricultural purposes, which indicates that residents have a low interest in agriculture," Muma said.

The council also received 168 applications for business purposes, 193 for industrial and 39 for institutional purposes.

Muma said 209 erven have been made available at the Onawa, Okandjengedi and Mandume locations, while 74 erven have been allocated at Efidi Proper.

“One hundred and three erven are in an advanced planning stage at Efidi, extension six and 300 erven are planned for Onawa Proper. One hundred erven at Efidi, extension two and 70 at Efidi, extension three are due to be surveyed.”

And, while the demand for land continues to grow, residents should have faith that the town will deliver on its promises, he underlined.

Ongwediva town council has meanwhile signed a partnership and cooporation agreement with the Okahao town council, to continue the long journey of cooperation which first started in 2008. The recently signed agreement runs until the year 2027.

“The local authorities have been working together in areas such as tourism, environmental management, local economic development, capacity building as well as culture and heritage,” Muma said.



Life lessons



He said as social challenges continue to rise, the town has joined hands with law enforcement agencies to reduce the use of alcohol and drugs in the community, especially amongst school-going children. Muma said this is being done by the Ongwediva junior council, which has decided to implement one of its resolutions to tackle issues affecting learners.

“Crime in schools has been identified as a concern amongst learners, hence the junior council has organised motivational sessions in collaboration with Oluno Correctional Facility in Ondangwa, where inmates spoke to the learners of Ongwediva Secondary School and Ekwafo Secondary School. The aim is to create awareness and to deter them from committing crime, which might cut their dreams short,” he said.



tuyeimo@namibiansun.com