The University of Namibia (UNAM) is working on several capital projects, which include veterinary clinics and a food and beverage processing plant as well as a research centre for astronomy and space science. 

This was announced by its Vice Chancellor, Kenneth Matengu, during the institution's state of the university address at Rundu.

Rundu is expected to have its own veterinary clinic by the end of this year. 

"We know your needs as farmers, and we are responding. We have already recruited veterinarians who will serve in this facility. We hope it will be open before the end of this year, I think, the first or second week of December. It's ready; it's just equipment and inspection and accreditation by the National Veterinary Council that need to be done," said Prof. Matengu, adding that "Once we are done with Rundu Veterinary Clinic this year, our next two projects will be built somewhere in the south and somewhere in the north next year."

UNAM has been testing a variety of products for about seven years now, and they are finally ready to launch their food and beverage processing plant.

"What it's going to do is develop value-added products from exotic and indigenous fruits and vegetables. It will provide market access for locally produced fruits and vegetables, conduct research to improve food and nutrition security in the country, contribute to the financial sustainability of Unam, and support the growth of entrepreneurship."

The UNAM Foundation is also raising funds for a university hospital. 

"This hospital will be the top referral hospital covering all disciplines and sub-disciplines of medicine and human medicine," said Matengu. "The construction of a clinical skills laboratory in Oshakati for our nursing students is also a need that the foundation is looking at raising resources for, and of course the fourth and fifth phases of the veterinary hospital are also needed."

The Vice Chancellor also outlined plans for UNAM's astronomy and space science research centre. "In the 1960s, the Max Planck Institute acquired Gamsberg mountain for astronomy research, as it has long been recognised as one of the premier locations in the world for such studies. Over the years, significant work has been carried out there, and we made the decision, with the support of the council, to repurchase the mountain. We currently possess five telescopes, one of which is the largest in the world to date."

To ensure that staff and students are safe, the university is installing 1200 cameras all over its campuses.