The Vice President, Lucia Witbooi, has reiterated that the government remains committed to continuous development and improving the living conditions of urban and peri-urban residents. 

Witbooi made the remarks when she commissioned an electrification project that connected households in Gibeon's Sunrise informal settlement to the national electricity grid. 

The electrification project funded by Debmarine Namibia at the cost of over N$200 000 benefitted 15 households.

More households in the Sunrise Informal Settlement are expected to be soon connected to the national grid. 

The Vice President highlighted that access to electricity is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right and engine for development. 

"With the cooperation between the Village Council and Ministry, we will bring light to the houses at Sunrise, and while we are also engaging, we will do what we can with the other houses to be connected. And I think we have our capable leaders that are addressing those needs, the water,  the electricity, the road infrastructure, sanitation and housing. But don't only depend on the government."

The minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, called on companies that profit from the country's natural resources to emulate Debmarine Namibia's example. 

"The companies that deal in mineral resources in Namibia must know the minerals must benefit Namibia. And the proceeds of those minerals must be seen and felt by our people."

The CEO of Debmarine Namibia, Willy Mertens, reaffirmed the diamond mining giant's commitment to continue investing in communities, especially for the benefit of women and children, from profits gained from the country's natural resources. 

"I think most of us know, Honourable Minister, the challenges that the natural diamond industry is going through. You know, to bore you with those details, but just imagine you were getting N$100 for a product you were selling in 2015, and today you are getting half of that. But the cost of producing those stones is ever increasing. Those are challenges that we are sitting with." 

The beneficiaries had this to say. 

"I am very grateful  for for being connected to the national electricity grid because for the past 16 years I had no access electricity."

"For many years I also had no access to electricity. I am very grateful to the Vice President. We throw stones, but everything has its time."