Stalled Unam project to exceed original N$340 million estimate

The University of Namibia (Unam) says it cannot confirm the revised cost of its long-delayed administration block in Windhoek but acknowledges that the final price is expected to exceed the original estimate.

The rising costs are due to inflation and years of interrupted construction.

The project, initially scheduled for completion in 2019, has remained incomplete for nearly seven years after construction began around 2016–2017.

At the time of award, media reports placed the contract value at about N$340 million, making it one of Unam’s major infrastructure investments aimed at centralising administrative operations at its main campus in Windhoek.

However, construction stalled within a few years, with work slowing significantly as funding interruptions set in.

Search for solutions

Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said the delays are mainly linked to funding constraints within broader government fiscal processes, which affected the continuity of construction work.

Since the stoppage, Unam has engaged government structures in search of funding solutions and also explored alternative financing approaches, but progress has remained limited.

“Consideration was also given to alternative funding approaches; however, progress has remained constrained by prevailing fiscal limitations,” he said.

Despite the delays, Unam has maintained contractual arrangements with the contractor to avoid legal and financial risks while the project remains on hold.

The administration block is still listed with the National Planning Commission as an ongoing development initiative, and Unam says funds allocated during the active construction phase were used before work stopped.

Revised numbers not available

A budget allocation has now been secured for the 2026 financial year, which the university says will assist in meeting key contractual obligations and potentially support a restart, depending on funding availability.

However, Unam says it is not yet in a position to provide a revised completion cost.

“At this stage, the university is unable to provide a confirmed revised completion cost… as the final figure remains subject to updated technical and financial assessments once funding arrangements and construction restart processes are fully confirmed,” Namesho explained.

He added that the cost is expected to rise beyond the original estimate due to inflationary pressures, construction cost increases, and the prolonged delay, but stressed that the exact figure will only be determined once work resumes and new assessments are done.

With the project now significantly behind schedule and still only partially complete, the university says the delay has also affected administrative efficiency, forcing staff to operate from dispersed offices not designed for central administration functions.

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