The Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy has praised the Otavi Town Council's Otavi Dream Initiative for its contribution to sustainable development.

Addressing the project relaunch, Gaudentia Kröhne said the gathering brought together players in the sector to nurture initiatives.

The Otavi Dream Initiative comprises six pillars, segmented into holistic community growth, ownership, participation, sustainable development, asset-based community development and unity. 

"The Otavi Dream initiative will provide fertile ground where young people can dream boldly, share ideas and actively contribute to nation building. This is commendable, as we have seen how the government has put youth empowerment at the centre of its policies. We all know that when we empower our youth, we secure our nation's destiny."

She called on businesses and mines to heavily invest in the town for development to fully take shape.

"Take Otavi Town Council as your corporate social responsibility project. Make budgetary provisions and provide them with something in your annual budgets, and that will be used for the empowerment of our youth, our women, and our communities, because these communities gave you the consent to operate in their towns, so therefore, plough back."

Otavi Mayor Isaac !Hoaeb called on the Otavi community to take full advantage of their participation in the Otavi Dream.

"I dream of Otavians who don't ask what Otavi can do for us. Dream of Otavians who take ownership of the challenges and solutions to the challenges, a dream of responsible, patriotic Otavians who love their town and want to play a role. The Otavi dream was then born."

Local businessman Leake Hangala, the patron of the Otavi Dream Initiative, called on local leaders to ensure that the Otavi Dream was realised for the betterment of the community.

"We can only go forward when we, in this case, what the mayor called 'Otavians', take up the responsibility of developing this town. Do we have meetings with business communities, or do we have meetings with associated farmers here as communities?"