Windhoek: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has condemned what it describes as misinformation surrounding the alleged development of the Kaoko Fria Smart City in the Skeleton Coast National Park. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry expressed shock over media reports and public notices calling for employment registration for a proposed smart city project at Cape/Angra Fria in the Kunene Region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the project, reportedly spearheaded by a private entity known as Kaoko Fria Investment, includes the construction of a port and city within the boundaries of the national park. The ministry clarified that it does not support the purported Kaoko Fria Smart City project, emphasizing that only the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism can authorize any land use within a national park, as outlined in the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975, amended in 1996. The ministry confirmed that no such permission was granted to Kaoko Fria Investment for the proposed city.

The ministry highlighted that the Skeleton Coast National Park is a gazetted protected area, and any land use within its boundaries requires ministry approval. The statement reiterated that no permission has been granted to Kaoko Fria Investment for the proposed smart city. Additionally, the ministry stressed that the park was established to preserve the ecological integrity of its ecosystems for present and future generations, as per Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution.

The ministry advised that any developments similar to the Kaoko Fria Smart City should be considered in towns outside protected area boundaries, reiterating its stance against the proposed project within the national park.