The southern coastal town of Luderitz is getting a new N$220-million Buchter Village Mall that will boost both its retail and hotel accommodation offerings.

Safland Property Group, in partnership with the Luderitz Town Council, held a ceremony for the construction of the mall.

Covering 23 000 m² with a gross lettable area of 7 970 m², the mall also consists of a hotel accommodation. 

The mall is expected to be completed within 18 months. 

The Councillor for the !Nami#Nus Constituency, Suzan Ndjaleka, said the council's efforts to attract investors for the construction of a mall date back to 2013. 

"It is important for us to acknowledge government structures so that we know when government structures are there; the planning is done by everybody who was part of this.There are processes that are also adhered to. And I would like to recognise the Luderitz Town Council. They had to take a council resolution to make this happen."

The Luderitz Waterfront Development Company CEO is CEO Fluksman Samuehl. 

"There will be a space which attracts people to have a new shopping experience that these residents of this town and the residents of ||Kharas Region have been waiting for for so long. I think this comes to the realisation only if people dream, and they dream very big. And they are not afraid to take challenges. And I think this country will only develop with that kind of mindset." 

Safland Property Group Managing Director Kallie Van Der Merwe also spoke at the event.

"But it is just interesting if it is coming from the town, the negative comments some of the key people make on this post, saying who will support this mall. You must remember our retailers read the same post, and they find it hard to make decisions because they look at the numbers and say, 'How would we sustain our business?' So, they have to buy into our belief system, and for that reason we ask the town, when we call on you, to come out in droves and support us?And let us be positive taking this forward."