The Namibian government is considering ways to revive the abandoned Intenge Community Lodge at the Ngoma Border Post, following a visit to assess the condition of the stalled tourism project.

The visit brought together the Salambala Conservancy and the Intenge Development Foundation, which are involved in the project.

The lodge, constructed through government financing, was gutted by wildfire in 2019 before it could become operational.

The previous investor withdrew from a planned lodge project after disagreements, resulting in the loss of an N$4 million investment.

Chairperson of the Salambala Conservancy, Ignatius Kawana, explained the ramifications of this loss. "We have suffered a significant setback, as the Salambala Conservancy was allocated four million by Nilaleg when the lodge project failed. We lost that four million – not four dollars, but four million. We lost it."

The Salambala Conservancy Chairperson said the conservancy has only one operational lodge serving 19 areas and called for greater cooperation to attract and retain tourism investment.

The visit, which forms part of a nationwide tour of the ministry's facilities, was aimed at assessing active and inactive infrastructure to understand the challenges and engage the parties involved.

The Deputy Minister of Environment, Anselm Marungu, said the discussions over the Intenge Community Lodge have resulted in a common understanding.

"What is more important is that we have met all the two parties involved, we have engaged, and we have reached common ground; the people are willing to work together. That's what we want, unity. That's what we want. For everything that must work, there must be unity."

Marungu said the government has gathered sufficient information to guide its decision on the future of the Intenge Community Lodge.

He says the intention is to revive the project, create employment for local communities and contribute to Namibia's socio-economic development through tourism.