‘Solar system is the way to go,’ says President
By Staff Reporter

Affordable electricity for poor people in settlements and rural areas remains one of the biggest challenges facing Namibia, but President Hifikepunye Pohamba has given the assurance that government will continue to fund solar system as the way to go.

In his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, the President committed his government to supporting the acquisition of solar systems for domestic use.

That support would continue to be channeled through Namibia’s Solar Revolving Fund as part of rural electrification and the promotion of renewable energy.

“So far,” he said, “892 solar systems were financed at a value of N$21 million (during the year under review). Under the Off-Grid Energization Master Plan, the government will also electrify public institutions with solar energy in off-grid areas.”

Accessibility and availability of reliable infrastructure for information and communication technology also featured in the President’s State of the Nation Address, saying that such technology was the way of the future.

“It will not only improve current economic performance, learning in our schools and efficiency in the public service, it will also take us towards the attainment of Vision 2030.”

Telecom Namibia, wholly owned by the government, and Mobile Telecommunications, MTC, a private company, have invested more than N$115 million in the West Africa Cable System, WACS, which will have a landing point at Swakopmund.

WACS will provide Namibia with direct international connectivity to the rest of the world. MTC is currently busy at work to switch over from 3G to 4G cellular technology, making Namibia the first country to introduce 4G technology in Africa.

Once 4G technology comes into operation, Namibia is set to experience faster mobile broadband Internet access speeds. The President called on Namibians to maintain unity, peace and stability to ensure economic growth and sustainable development.

“I wish to make a clarion call to our nation to choose the ethic of hard work, honesty, transparency and patriotic zeal to contribute to the ongoing nation building efforts. Our country will not be developed and built by anyone else but ourselves,” said President Pohamba.

“I call upon you, fellow Namibians, to join us in taking our country forward on the road towards prosperity and greater peace, social justice and greater freedom and liberty, towards the achievement of Vision 2030.”