Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, who is on a week-long visit to the Kavango regions, has chastised the lack of progress on the construction of the fisheries office building in the Kavango East, which has been put on hold for the last two years.
The Minister’s week-long visit, which started on Tuesday, in the Kavango East and West regions is aimed at appraising the Minister with the state of the inland fisheries and aquaculture development and facilities in the country, to discuss staff members’ challenges and aspirations and to meet the Regional Leaders.
“I’m not happy with what I see,” those were the words of Klazen when he visited the construction site of the Ministry’s office building in Rundu on Tuesday morning.
Klazen, who took office last year, expressed disappointment with the condition and construction of the building, which has been underway for the past ten years.
The Kavango East Regional Governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, and the Chief Regional Officer of the Kavango East Regional Council, Luwig Thikusho, accompanied the Minister to the construction site.
Wakudumo briefed the Minister on the infrastructure development, services and agricultural food security in the region. He further expressed concerns regarding the Ministry of Fisheries office building construction that was stalled for the last two financial years.
The Governor went ahead and pledged support to the Minister during his stay, which started on Monday and is set to conclude on Friday.
On 18 July, the minister visited the Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI) in the Kavango East.
The Minister was accompanied by the fisheries Deputy Minister Silvia Makgone, the ministry’s executive director, Annely Haiphene, and ministerial staff.
KIFI is Namibia’s centre of excellence for freshwater research.
