The Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) on Friday electrified 1 000 households in 10 informal settlements on the outskirts of Windhoek.
Regarded as the single largest corporate social investment (CSI) by NamPower, the project cost the power utility about N.dollars 22 million. That included the electrification of 1 000 households, construction of medium to low voltage networks, installation of streetlights and individual household connections that includes DB boards and prepaid meters.
Speaking during the inauguration event here on Friday, NamPower Managing Director, Simson Haulofu said the power utility steadfastly operates by “ethos of being a responsible corporate citizen”.
The company has made a significant impact to the development of the country, beyond only providing electricity as it has also invested more than N.dollars 50 million in CSI initiatives, he said.
Haulofu said the cooperation between City of Windhoek and all contractors who were involved in the project contributes towards electrification.
“To the beneficiaries of the project, electricity has finally come, and with it, it brings light for the school-child to study, brings information through radio, television and online platforms, business owners can stock up perishable foods and endless opportunities are created for small business,” Haulofu said, noting that the recipients must guard the infrastructure jealously.
Martha Mbombo, the deputy chairperson of the NamPower board, said electricity serves as the basis for satisfying fundamental human needs.
“It is NamPower’s mandate to provide reliable electricity supply to all Namibians in order to keep the Namibian economy running. NamPower remains focused on delivering on its mandate, thus by investing greatly into projects that benefit the masses that did not previously have access to such basic rights,” she said.
Meanwhile, representing Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, urban minister Erastus Uutoni described the electrification as key outcome since the establishment of the State-owned enterprises chief executive officers forum in 2015, which focuses on CSI.
“The commitment by NamPower to electrify the 1 000 households in the informal settlements undoubtedly contributes to the improvement of lives of communities living in those identified peri-urban areas in and around Windhoek,” Mbumba said in the speech read on his behalf.
According to Mbumba, in search of dignified life, Windhoek has witnessed an influx of people from rural areas and smaller towns that led to mushrooming of informal settlements.
“The rapid growth of informal settlements has been one of the country’s biggest development challenges that bring socio-economic pressure on the resources of the City of Windhoek as well as the government,” he said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
