Multi-million Zambezi Waterfront Tourism Park is to open its doors for the public during the third quarter of this year after several hiccups have been sorted out.
Although a feasibility study on this project was completed in 2003, the construction only started three years later, and the delay could be attributed to the Town Council’s reluctance to transfer the land into the name of the Waterfront.
Initially, government made N$32,2 million available in 2004 for inter alia the roads and infrastructure, the entrance and administration facility, aquarium, walkways, recreational centre, arts and craft centre, and annual operating costs.
However, with the delay the costs escalated and it was further reported by the Waterfront board that the design and documentation stages unearthed a potential risk to the project.
“This necessitated embankments and earthworks to be added to the project to mitigate the effects of floods. At the same time, the heavy rain falls over Zambezi also delayed the project,” said the project manager, Geoffrey Mugala.
This resulted in an increase of the initial funding from N$32,2 million to N$79 million in the 2009/2010 book year.
During the next financial year, the Waterfont was provided with additional funding of N$22 million to complete the infrastructure development, and for the next two years about N$40 million were pumped into the project.
“During the 2013/2014 financial year we needed an amount of N$2,3 million to cover the anticipated shortfall on the budget for the completion of the 26 bungalows and a further N$7,5 million to cater for the operation costs,” said Mugala.
He is optimistic that the opening of the park to the public will still be realised this year, while in the meantime they will continue with another phase for which an amount of N$30 million has been set aside.
It is likely that this project would be transferred to Namibia Wildlife Resorts so that the NWR with its capacity to run a tourism facility should turn it into a profitable company.
Although a feasibility study on this project was completed in 2003, the construction only started three years later, and the delay could be attributed to the Town Council’s reluctance to transfer the land into the name of the Waterfront.
Initially, government made N$32,2 million available in 2004 for inter alia the roads and infrastructure, the entrance and administration facility, aquarium, walkways, recreational centre, arts and craft centre, and annual operating costs.
However, with the delay the costs escalated and it was further reported by the Waterfront board that the design and documentation stages unearthed a potential risk to the project.
“This necessitated embankments and earthworks to be added to the project to mitigate the effects of floods. At the same time, the heavy rain falls over Zambezi also delayed the project,” said the project manager, Geoffrey Mugala.
This resulted in an increase of the initial funding from N$32,2 million to N$79 million in the 2009/2010 book year.
During the next financial year, the Waterfont was provided with additional funding of N$22 million to complete the infrastructure development, and for the next two years about N$40 million were pumped into the project.
“During the 2013/2014 financial year we needed an amount of N$2,3 million to cover the anticipated shortfall on the budget for the completion of the 26 bungalows and a further N$7,5 million to cater for the operation costs,” said Mugala.
He is optimistic that the opening of the park to the public will still be realised this year, while in the meantime they will continue with another phase for which an amount of N$30 million has been set aside.
It is likely that this project would be transferred to Namibia Wildlife Resorts so that the NWR with its capacity to run a tourism facility should turn it into a profitable company.
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