The residents of Napengu in the Zambezi Region have appealed to the Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, to provide electricity to their area.

The minister visited Napengu, which has 300 households.

About 100% of the residents live in un-electrified homes, hence the need to embark on the project to light up the entire village.

The minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, says that there are already projects and developments to build on the already existing projects initiated by the community. 

"Energy projects that have been started, energy projects that are being planned, we want to work on those."

In 2017, the community held a meeting to initiate and pursue a dream to electrify the whole area, where the community was mobilised to contribute towards the electrification of the village, which resulted in raising the amount of N$140,000 by September 2022.

The money contributed was used to purchase two transformers through NORED.

Due to the slow progress of the electricity project, the community, through the Sibbinda Constituency councillor, requested an audience with the Minister of Mines and Energy to discuss the planned Napengu Village electrification. 

Among others, challenges posed by non-access to electricity in the community include restraint and inability to set up small business operation projects; school-going children are unable to study and to do their homework at night; and submission of assignments for undergraduates in tertiary institutions such as UNAM, NUST, and IUM.

Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED) Regional Manager for Zambezi, Sylvester Chaka, said that the agreement he had with the community was to put up ABC lines.

"The idea was that once the lines go through the villages, then individually they can also pull them into their own houses."

The community of Nampengu applauded the Minister of Mines and Energy for coming to their aid.