The first-ever Kalkfeld Business Park is yet to be fully occupied by businesses and vendors.

The park was constructed in 2012 at a cost of N$14 million.

Over the years, challenges facing the market occupation have been blamed on the high rental fees.

Otjozondjupa Regional Council chairperson and Otjiwarongo Constituency councillor, Marlene Mbakera, says they are in talks to have the fees reduced.

As the settlement gears itself to develop and revive the village council status, which was downgraded in 1996, full occupancy at the open market and units will result in business activity and job creation.

Currently, the shop unit rental fees are over N$8,000 per month, while open market stalls, which have never been used, are said to be between N$400 and N$1,000 per month, per vendor.

"We are struggling with the prices of the open market that has been built there by NIDA. Last year, we went to the head office of NIDA, and we were in discussion in terms of pricing. We went to the minister, wrote a letter through the minister, just to explain that the prices are too high. It's expensive; it's exorbitant. When it comes to leasing, people have to pay to be able to operate areas, and because of that fact, it's so expensive that people will sit under the trees and not make use of the area or market. We really are pleading with NIDA and its executive management to review the price structure," said Mbakera.

In 2023, a convenience supermarket was set up on the premises, with plans in the pipeline for a bakery to be built.

"We got funding for the bakery already through the regional council, under the employment scheme. So what we are trying to do now is identify two or three members of the community, send them to training to be able to bake, and then they will be running the bakery. At the moment, Kalkfeld is getting its bread from Omaruru or Otjiwarongo, and bread is something that you use daily, so our idea is that through opening a bakery, bread will be accessible, and then we will be able to create employment."

Mbakera added that plans are also underway for an open market awareness day, where community members will be briefed on the progress of pricing and how they can apply for leasing the stalls.

Kalkfeld, situated over 70 kilometres west of Otjiwarongo, was downgraded from village status due to little or no economic activity.