District hospitals: Govt's empty promises mushroom

While the government announced the construction of a new district hospital in Windhoek, similar projects - initiated about 10 years ago in the Kavango West, Otjozondjupa and Oshana regions - have turned into white elephants. This despite close to N$10 million in taxpayer money having already been spent on these projects.Less than a month before the 2014 general election, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba laid the ceremonial first brick of a state-of-the-art referral hospital in Nkurenkuru in Kavango West.This project was aimed at addressing the health woes faced in the Kavango regions, where access to healthcare services continues to elude many. To date, the only evidence on site is a huge plot of land that was fenced off at a cost of over N$6 million.Namibian Sun has reported on how the fence has since been vandalised. Millions were also spent on feasibility studies for this project.Pipe dreamMeanwhile, six years ago, it was reported that a state hospital was to be constructed at Otjiwarongo to the tune of about N$720 million. Today, that project remains a pipe dream.A 20-hectare piece of land was already allocated in 2014 and construction was expected to run in three phases, but the project remains shelved. Three weeks ago, NBC reported that Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua had called on government to fulfil that promise.Six years laterIn Oshana Region, Cabinet gave the go-ahead in 2018 for a referral hospital to be constructed in Ondangwa, with N$1.3 million set aside to compensate homestead owners at the town to make way for the development of the 1 000-bed facility. Six years later, construction has yet to commence. Erf 2372,measuring 19 hectares, has been allocated to the health ministry for the hospital.When contacted for comment on its progress yesterday, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula told Namibian Sun that the current focus is on the construction of the new district hospital in Windhoek. “Why are you asking about Ondangwa and not the one in Windhoek? Now we are busy with the one in Windhoek. We can only take one at a time. Tomorrow [today], we are going to do the groundbreaking for the one in Windhoek,” he briefly responded.Political ployThis week, the news that the health ministry will do the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital in Havana informal settlement was met with mixed feelings.Some suggested that it is a campaign ploy by the ruling party Swapo to canvas votes ahead of this year’s elections, adding that the same hospital was promised ahead of the 2019 general and presidential elections. “Is this the same district hospital that was promised to be built during the 2019 elections? These liars must stop thinking everyone is stupid,” Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) commissar Michael Amushelelo wrote on Facebook.Mathew Mvula added: “When it’s time to beg for votes, they give all the stupid promises”.“What happened to the Otjiwarongo hospital? We could at least have had jobs today. Who is to be blamed in this? We want answers, please. Poor development in our region,” Oukule Kooper opined.Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah argued that based on government’s other failed promises, those criticising the state for this so-called ‘campaign ploy’ are not wrong. “They should not blame the people who are saying that it’s just a ploy or another way to get a vote for Swapo."He added that for government to avoid such sentiments by the public, it must implement the promises it makes. “I think, for me, although the timing is suspect, it really boils down to implementation,” Kamwanyah said.“We do have a problem in this country that we have good policies, good initiatives, but when it comes to actually implementing those initiatives, it takes us ages before we can come through. I don&#039;t know whether it is a matter of expertise or a matter of competency or a matter of leadership. I don&#039;t know,” he said.kenya@namibiansun.com

District hospitals: Govt's empty promises mushroom

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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District hospitals: Govt's empty promises mushroom

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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