//Kharas Region key to Namibia’s sustainable development trajectory - Witbooi

Namibia and the //Kharas region in particular have recorded significant achievements since Independence. 

“Despite the notable progress achieved since Independence, the //Kharas Region continues to face structural challenges, including limited value addition and industrial activity, as well as persistent gaps in water, sanitation, and housing, compounded by fiscal constraints," Vice President Lucia Witbooi acknowledged in her speech at Namibia's 36th Independence celebrations, celebrated under the theme "Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future," in Karasburg on Saturday. 

Inclusive regional development - “In response, government is advancing key projects such as infrastructure upgrades in Grunau, water expansion in Ariamsvlei, water system rehabilitation in Noordoewer and Aussenkehr, and the servicing of plots in Aus. Alongside broader investments in settlement servicing and water infrastructure, this reflects a continued commitment to accelerating inclusive and sustainable regional development,” Witbooi added. 

According to the Vice President, the //Kharas Region has emerged from a historically marginalised area into a dynamic and strategic economic hub. “Major investments in infrastructure have strengthened connectivity, service delivery, and institutional capacity, while development has increasingly reached smaller settlements through improved water supply, sanitation, electrification, and road networks.”

Ongoing efforts - Witbooi added, “At the same time, access to healthcare has expanded through the growing network of clinics and health facilities in the region. The government continues to renovate and build new clinics to make health accessible to the residents of the //Kharas region,” she said. 

The Vice President further emphasised the importance of the strategic development of Aus as a gateway within the Lüderitz–Keetmanshoop corridor. “Positioned within the Lüderitz–Aus Development Corridor, the region is now entering a new phase of industrialisation, driven by large-scale renewable energy and green hydrogen initiatives, which are expected to accelerate economic growth, create employment, and reinforce the //Kharas Region’s role as a key contributor to Namibia’s sustainable development trajectory," Witbooi said.

Progress- She also highlighted that the region has recorded significant progress across key sectors. “These include the expansion of export-orientated agriculture along the Orange River, most notably table grape production in Aussenkehr and agri-processing linked to the Naute and Neckartal Dam projects alongside continued growth in mining, fisheries, and tourism. This and other developments in the //Kharas Region demonstrate our government’s commitment to ensuring balanced national progress in all regions of our country," the Vice President said. 

Witbooi said that the recent opening of the state-of-the-art Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) will boost the economy of the region. “It will uplift and empower young people to be active contributors to our country’s economic growth. I am urging parents from the //Kharas Region to encourage their children to take the opportunities offered at the KVTC in order to contribute meaningfully to our country’s human resource development,” she concluded.