By: Annakleta Haikera
Meanwhile, as CPBN is outraged over the botched N$35 million-dollar project, unemployed Kavango West youth say that the two abandoned youth centres in the region are reducing youth empowerment in the region.
One of the centres is located in Rupara, while the other, a youth Vocational Training Centre, is in Nkurenkuru. These two centres have been abandoned by the constructors.
To date, the structure lacks the necessary tools for completing the centres. The Vocational Training Centre at Nkurenkuru has cement left by the constructor two years ago, which is believed to have been spoiled, while the Youth Centre at Rupara only has large walls that have not yet been completed since 2012.
A youth leader in the Kavango West, Stefanus Kudumo, said he witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre in 2020 with higher education minister Itah-Kandji Murangi.
“Now, the site was abandoned by the constructors. While the Rupara Youth development centre was started some 10 years ago, and millions of dollars have been budgeted for this project, but up until now, nothing has been completed.”
Kudumo also said most youths from the Kavango West are forced to go to Rundu and attend their vocational education. They end up spending a lot of money on transportation and accommodation, “but we have all these facilities in the Kavango West. We want our leaders to do something on these two centres.”
Meanwhile, Youth Forum Chairperson in the Kavango West Kotokeni Willem told The Villager that there have been different constructors for the Rupara Development Youth Centre, and the project had been abandoned several times.
“I want to point out that the regional government has been pushing to see to it that the constructions are going to be completed soon into services. As per the state of the region address (SORA) address from Sirkka Ausiku, the governor, on 10 June, there will be N$13 million allocated for this financial year to see the ongoing construction for the two centres, which to me is progress going forward and we hope that the construction will be completed soon with the fund that has been allocated.”
Kotokeni also stated that several bags of cement were found dry, and that the NVTC leadership came down to establish the facts on the ground.
“As we speak, the tender will be re-advertised, but diligence needs to be made to look at it. What is the cost? What has been spent so far? What’s left out for the completion of the centre? We hope the advertisement will come soon and a new constructor will be appointed.”
