The Keetmanshoop Meteorological Office is set to undergo infrastructure upgrades to improve weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities in the region. 

Chief Meteorologist Elias Aiyambo revealed this in his presentation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy, Industry, Public Administration and Planning during its oversight inspection on capital projects in the ||Kharas Region. 

The government allocated a rollover budget of about N$40 million for the financial years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25, earmarked for the upgrading of Katima Mulilo, Swakopmund and Keetmanshoop meteorological offices. 

Aiyambo said procurement delays have, however, pushed the Keetmanshoop office infrastructure upgrade to the next financial year. 

"According to the ministry's strategic plan, we need to expand our services from Windhoek to the regions. So, as of now, it was earmarked that Keetmans will be next to be upgraded. And also the meteorological office to become, or let me say, Keetmanshoop to become a regional office."

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport regional office could not provide financial reporting on infrastructure renovation and upgrade projects executed in the region.

Iileni Nghishekwa is the Control Works Inspector at the Ministry of Works and Transport.

"We don't know how it is put out in the document  and we don't know what the total budget is allocated. We are just given to say, 'This is what has come for ||Kharas, supervise it.' That's why I mentioned the two projects handed to us to supervise."

The committee was displeased with the failure to provide reports on projects. 

"We need a serious and urgent call with the Ministry of Works so that we understand their operations as this committee responsible for public administration and planning because otherwise that is why people in the region are unhappy with the government. They don't see these things; even the officers don't see things happening because things seem to be centralised," maintained committee member Willem Amutenya.

"If possible, we in the regions may also be called to some sitting where these things are going to be addressed. We do have much to say in terms of challenges," added Nghishekwa