Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangwe Ithete, says the government will soon connect more than 700 households in Choto Extensions 7 and 8 in Katima Mulilo.
“I am illustrating the importance of solar energy because we will soon begin a project to connect over 700 households in Choto Extensions 7 and 8 in Katima Mulilo,” he said at the commissioning of electrification projects in Kongola, Zambezi Region.
He added that only 13,502 of the 37,296 households in Zambezi are connected.
“The remaining 23,794 unelectrified households are a serious challenge for the ministry but also for all of us. Government cannot succeed in this cause alone because two hands are always better than one,” Ithete said.
To speed up connections, the ministry signed a Service Level Agreement with Northern Electricity Distributor.
“The Service Level Agreement with NORED provide an accelerated way to connect more than three times the usual annual average of households in the region,” he explained.
Ithete urged communities to embrace solar power.
“We have ample sunlight in Zambezi, therefore we cannot be without electricity, we cannot only rely on grid! Let us build strong solar systems and put skilled people in place to manage and maintain our solar systems,” he said.
He also called for unity.
“The clinic treats every Namibian, and schools enroll every Namibian child. Why then should we be divided in our pursuit of development?”
The projects also include electrifying schools in Old Masokotwani, Kahunikwa, Nsundwa, Ikaba and Malal Nkanga.
