N$200m later, Zambezi waterfront company lies in state

The transfer of the Zambezi Waterfront Development Company (ZWDC) continues to drag on almost nine years after a Cabinet decision was taken that it be handed over to Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR).This is on top of the company being run by sole director Regina Ndopu-Lubinda, who serves as its only board member.This comes amid fears that she was solely controlling the entity’s purse strings and making decisions alone.“The place is closed as we speak. Cabinet decided that it needs to be transferred,” Ndopu-Lubinda said of the facility’s management.The ministry is aware that she serves as the company’s only board director, she said, adding that there was no reason to believe corporate malfeasance would occur.“The ministry is aware of that. We are doing maintenance; we are transitioning.“I deal with the staff. We are just maintaining the facility and ensuring it is functional. The strategic decisions have already been taken and it’s just a matter of implementing decisions, so that is being handled by the relevant ministries,” Ndopu-Lubinda said.Millions investedGovernment invested N$180 million into the first phase of the Zambezi waterfront tourism park’s development, which included site clearing, bulk earth works, engineering, infrastructure, an administration building, 15 bungalows, a camping site, conference facilities and walkways on land measuring 22 hectares.In addition, government has forked out N$20 million annually for operational expenses over the past two years.The park, which sits on an elevated stretch of land on the banks of the Zambezi River, is largely a hospitality entity, but will also comprise community tourism activities such wood carving, weaving and basketry.It is strategically located in Katima Mulilo, which borders Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana – which together make up the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). Among some of the completed infrastructure is an information centre and bungalows that already accommodate guests.

N$200m later, Zambezi waterfront company lies in state

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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N$200m later, Zambezi waterfront company lies in state

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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