New streetlights were installed along the trunk road at Ndiyona Settlement in the Kavango East Region. 

The project, which took three months to complete, was funded by the Kavango East Regional Council at a cost of more than N$1.1 million. 

For the average person, these are just lights, but for the locals, their settlement just changed for the better. People will actually get to see after sunset. 

"For too long, our streets have been dark after sunset, posing a challenge to safety, hindering social activities and limiting economic opportunities. We envision an Ndiyona where our children can walk home safe even after studies, where local businesses can extend their operating hours, and where community gatherings can go well into the night," said constituency councillor Laurentius Mukouya.

Special Advisor to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Dr. Boniface Mutumba, who was speaking on behalf of the minister, said streetlights are beacons of progress. 

"By illuminating the Ndiyona settlement and the B8 Trunk Road, we are enhancing safety, as proper lighting reduces the risk of traffic accidents and deters criminal activity. With this type of development, night-time travel becomes safer and more reliable, supporting economic activities, access to healthcare, and social interactions beyond daylight hours."

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe, Marian Chombo, praised Namibia for its road network.

"I also want to commend the government of Namibia for its road network. Namibia is a gateway to the SADC. So this development that is happening here in Ndiyona is not just for Ndiyona; it's for the whole 16 countries in SADC."

To ensure that the lights continue working, those in charge are encouraged to invest in capacity building by training local technicians and caretakers to maintain and manage the street lighting infrastructure.