Let there be light, says minister

“Nkurenkuru must attract investment with this light,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangwe Ithete, when flipping the switch on Thursday last week. He was officially inaugurating the electrification of almost 200 homes in the Kavango West Region.“I give you my word that in 14 years’ time, all households will have electricity. This is our vision, and we will not stop until it is achieved,” he said.Through a service level agreement with the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored), signed in 2024, and in collaboration with the Nkurenkuru Town Council, the minister was able to celebrate the culmination of an investment of N$12.1 million. This included N$9.6 million for the electrification of homes in Extension 10, Nkurenkuru Town, and N$2.5 million for the pending Phase Two electrification of Sikondo Village.Ithete said: “Let us celebrate this milestone but also see it as a call to action. Electricity is here; now it is up to us to use it wisely to educate, to innovate, to build industries, and to protect our environment.”The minister also warned: “Electricity can be dangerous if not used with caution. Careless handling of electrical wires, overloading plugs, or leaving appliances unattended can lead to serious injuries, fires or even loss of life. I urge all of us to use electricity responsibly to save lives. Report copper wire theft and pay bills on time, and teach our children to do the same, so that this gift continues to bring progress without causing harm.”LifelineAccording to the minister, the project is a lifeline. “It is the light that will help our children learn, the power that will help our clinics save lives, and the energy that will drive small businesses and industries. It is the step forward that Kavango West has been waiting for. “We are here to switch on the lights and hope for our communities in Kavango West,” he added.The previous day, he was in Kongola, handing over a similar development to the local shack dwellers, Bukalo shack dwellers, and Nampengu Village Phase One in the Zambezi Region, fully funded by the ministry at a total cost of approximately N$10 million and executed by Nored.“There I was reminded of the biblical analogy of light; that light brings life and chases away darkness,” the minister said. He compared the event to the Bible story where God said: “Let there be light,” noting that with light came life, growth and creation. “This is very relatable to the commissioning of electricity,” according to Ithete.Challenges“This region has challenges that reach many of our families, with little opportunity for industries or jobs. The absence of proper infrastructure such as roads, clean water, and above all, electricity has made daily life difficult. These challenges are some of the darkness we are addressing here today,” he said.“It is therefore my hope that the electricity we are switching on today is the beginning of progress and a symbol of a new chapter for Nkurenkuru and the whole of Kavango West. I believe that we are moving from the darkness of underdevelopment into the light of opportunity, from the shadows of poverty into the brightness of hope and progress,” said Ithete.“Together, we can transform Kavango West from a region of potential into a region of prosperity by each of us playing our part and making our contributions. We look forward to returning to electrify those not included in this round,” Ithete said.

Let there be light, says minister

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Republikein 2026-03-26

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Let there be light, says minister

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