The government is moving to revive the Zambezi Waterfront project after spending more than N$200 million on the development, which has remained inactive for 17 years.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare disclosed the expenditure during a meeting with Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel, raising concerns over the prolonged delays and the failure of the investment to deliver its intended economic benefits.
Daniel said the ministry had dispatched a team to the Zambezi Region to assess the project’s current condition and determine what would be required to bring it into operation.
The assessment is expected to establish the outstanding work and inform decisions on how the government should proceed with the development.
The project was intended to support tourism development and stimulate economic activity in the Zambezi Region, but has remained inactive despite the substantial public investment.
Ngurare called for greater accountability in the implementation of government-funded projects, stressing that public expenditure must translate into tangible results.
“Every penny that we commit as Government must yield results within the intended time,” Ngurare said.
He urged the relevant stakeholders to coordinate their efforts to ensure that the project is completed and becomes operational.
Daniel said the proposed revival was aimed at restoring the development’s original purpose and ensuring that the investment contributes to tourism growth and economic activity in the region.
However, the government has yet to announce how much additional funding will be required to complete the project or when it is expected to become operational.
The ministry’s assessment will determine the next steps for the development, leaving the future cost and completion timeline uncertain.
