The Chinese government is planning to construct hostels at Satotwa and Simanya villages in the Kavango West Region through the Economic and Technical Cooperation it signed with Namibia in 2020, Mankumpi Constituency’s councillor Lukas Muha has said.

Muha told Nampa on Sunday the project will see two more hostels being built in the Zambezi Region, and was initiated by Swapo Party School Rector Marco Hausiku via the National Planning Commission of Namibia when he served as Deputy Prime Minister.

“The project worth multi-million Namibia dollars will house male and female dormitories, dining halls, teachers’ houses, sports facilities, four classroom blocks, a science lab and computer lab,” he said.

The councillor said the hostel for Satotwa will be built first and will accommodate 150 learners from surrounding villages.

Muha said there is a need for hostels to be constructed as the entire constituency does not have hostels.

“Satotwa and Simanya villages were identified as they are at the centre of surrounding villages,” he explained.

The councillor said during funding negotiations, the Chinese government indicated to have the Alex Muranda road gravelled that leads to the two envisaged hostels for better access once construction commences.

The People’s Republic of China also gave the Namibian government a task to ensure network is available in those areas.

“I am happy to indicate that the mobile telecommunications tower is operational,” Muha said.

Meanwhile, he said, the community of Satotwa decided to meet the government halfway and last month started clearing the road leading to Satotwa’s envisaged hostel.

Muha registered his dissatisfaction with the Roads Authority, explaining that he last contacted them last month and did not get feedback on when the gravelling of the road would commence.

The Director General of NPC Obeth Kandjoze on Monday told Nampa each hostel will be built for N.dollars 54.5 million.

Kandjoze said the tendering process was undertaken by the Chinese government and a company called Gansu Construction Investment Group was selected as the contractor.

“The company is expected to be on site by December 2021,” Kandjoze said.

Public Relations Officer at the Chinese Embassy to Namibia, Lina Wang said the constructions will be done totally through grant aid provided by their government.

She said the project also includes upgrading the four schools in Kavango West and Zambezi.

Chief Executive Officer of the Roads Authority, Conrad Lutombi said the road is currently under a detailed design tender process.

“Once the consultant is appointed the design will take six months. We hope to start with construction in the next financial year,” he said, adding that for now, the Roads Authority would ensure the road is trafficable.

Source: Namibia Press Agency