Since Gam was declared a settlement in 2011, development has taken shape, with the regional leadership optimistic that it could be declared a town in the near future.

Under the leadership of the Governor, the Gam Development Organization has been advocating for the development of the settlement under the leadership of the Governor.

James Uerikua, who was the chairperson of the organization at the time, had requested that the Roads Authority looks into the road infrastructure and how best it could be addressed in 2012.

Last year, a 4.5-kilometer stretch was upgraded from gravel to bitumen standard at a cost of N$40 million.

The Mines and Energy Ministry also allocated a budget of N$32 million for solar panels, and about 150 houses were electrified as a result.

A few years later, when Uerikua took office as governor, 300 more houses were electrified.

"In total, 415 houses have been electrified; this is the main plant, and there are only two grid systems in Namibia under the Ministry of Mines and Energy: the one in Tsumkwe and the one in Gam. As you know, we are moving into the renewable energy space; however, demand and supply factors can cause challenges during pickup time; however, Cenored is working around the clock to see how best they can bring in clean electricity, with the closest ones being in Eiseb and Mangetti."

The school was also electrified in 2020.

Currently, there are also ditches dug in different areas of Gam, which Uerikua says are to further upgrade the settlement.

"Whereby you provide services, demarcated land erven are available, now we are entering a stage where investors will come and buy land to invest in the town, so we call on investors to come and invest and develop Gam settlement, Tsumkwe settlement, for them to grow so that one day they will achieve town status."

The Otjozondjupa Region is divided into four health districts, and the nearest to Gam is the Grootfontein Health District.

"The aim is to get it liberated by getting it to stand as a health district on its own. The closest doctor is only in Mangetti, which is one doctor for the whole area, which is 300 km from here, and the only health facility where they can really be taken care of is in Grootfontein."

According to Uerikua, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has approved Gam as a health district.

However, due to the current budgetary limitations, plans are on hold.

Another matter needing attention is the Gam Combined School, which does not have water on the school grounds.

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NBC Digital News

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Eveline Paulus