WINDHOEK, Sept. 20– Namibia launched an electrification project on Wednesday to enhance the infrastructure of its informal settlements located in the Tobias Hainyeko constituency in the capital of Windhoek. The project includes the installation of medium- and low-voltage overhead networks and service connections, ultimately providing electricity to 249 households. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Namibian Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni noted that the challenges of rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration have resulted in informal settlements lacking essential services. He said Windhoek plans to electrify about 4,000 households over the next five years. “I call upon all financial institutions to assist in this crucial project,” he said, stressing that electrification is essential for the well-being of residents in all walks of life and that all levels of government must strive to mobilize the much-needed financial support for such projects. Queen Kamati, mayor of Windhoek, said the groundbreaking project is part of the capital’s efforts to create favorable conditions in informal areas by providing basic services such as electricity and water. Kamati expressed the importance of electricity as a lifeline that powers homes, fuels businesses, and enhances safety and well-being. According to the United Nations, nearly 40 percent of the country’s population lives in informal settlements with little or no access to infrastructure and basic services, including water, sanitation, electricity, and hygiene.
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