The much-awaited second phase of the Neckartal Dam 19-thousand-hectare irrigation project is gaining momentum, with the project viability assessment currently underway.

As part of this development, the government-appointed project consultant, Dunamis Consulting Engineers, held a stakeholder engagement in Keetmanshoop. 

Facilitated by Dunamis Consulting Engineers and attended by members of the ||Kharas Regional Development Coordinating Committee, the engagement solicited inputs and concerns regarding the planned irrigation project. 

The irrigation project's viability assessment will be implemented over five phases and is expected to be completed before the end of the year. 

Project Leader at Dunamis Consulting Engineers, Abisai Nambahu, says, "Come next year in January, there must be a position to hit the ground. We should assume that we don't get any delays because we are also subjected to approvals after every stage through our employer, the Ministry of Agriculture." 

The Governor of ||Kharas, David Gertze, said the stakeholder consultation engagement renewed hope for the speedy implementation of the irrigation project. 

 "The bottom line of our expectations is with local contend beneficiation, employment, mainly oof our youth, men  and women. And that the face of the region change for good, positively."

Chairperson of the ||Kharas Regional Council, Gerrit Witbooi, adds "One thing that we need to emphasise  as the ||Kharas Regional Council belong to the inhabitants of ||Kharas Region. So, lets put ||Kharas first in anything we do."

These were some of the inputs and concerns shared by the stakeholder engagement participants.

"Please continue with broader consultations. Please. In the end we only sit with what the program says and then we sit in the end with communities who still don't know what's going on around them. And we experience it several times."

" I think aquaculture should be an essential should be part and parcel of the implementation process, because it is also essential  for nutrient recycling, and can also provide a substantial amount of food security." 

The Neckartal dam is Namibia's largest dam and is located on the Fish River in the vicinity of Keetmanshoop and was inaugurated in March 2020