Zambezi regional leaders have welcomed an oversight visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy, which focused on the prolonged delays in completing the Manyeha Crocodile Leather Processing Project in Kongola.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy, during its oversight visit to the Zambezi Region, first paid a courtesy call on the Governor and other regional leaders before proceeding to inspect the project in Kongola.
"We are not here merely to inspect, but we are here to collaborate. Collaboration requires transparency. Our goal is clear: we are to ensure that the projects are not just plans on paper but functional engines of economic growth," stated Chairperson Eddie |Nanub.
The project was initially expected to support large-scale production of crocodile leather and related products while creating thousands of jobs and stimulating economic activity in the region.
However, regional leaders expressed concern over the lack of regular communication and updates from the responsible ministry regarding the project's progress.
Chairperson of the Zambezi Regional Council, Bernard Sisamu, stressed, "So let's hope that when you're in the region you visit such types of projects, there should be some fruits in the can so that we feel that we are also considered as part of Namibia, because a project cannot be abandoned for more than 10 years and nothing is done. What was the purpose of initiating such projects?"
Governor Dorothy Kabula also called on the government to prioritise the completion of unfinished capital projects rather than leaving existing investments idle while initiating new ones.
She warned that abandoning projects midway turns them into white elephants, undermining their intended benefits, particularly job creation and economic opportunities for young people.
The oversight committee also sought clarity on the role of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), particularly regarding the funding allocated to the project and how the money had been utilised.
In response, NIDA's Manager for Industrial Development, Ruben Amaambo, said the project is approximately 60% complete, with outstanding infrastructure and funding challenges hampering its completion.
"They were very much interested, and we had a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU), but at the end the investor pulled out because one of the conditions is they are supposed to bring in capital or working capital so that they can complete and finalise the project. Unfortunately, they were trying to get some funding from financial institutions, but it did not materialise."
The outstanding components include tourism-related facilities intended to attract visitors to the area, as well as the crocodile processing facility itself.