The Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC) has made significant progress in its engagements with the central government to revitalise the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park. According to Mayor Kabende Kabende, the council aims to unlock the town's tourism potential, making it more attractive to tourists and investors while ensuring local businesses and residents benefit from the sector. The council's efforts focus on creating an environment that encourages private investment in tourism-related businesses. This development is part of the town's broader strategy to promote economic growth and improve residents' quality of life. The mayor emphasised the importance of balancing tourism development with addressing residents' needs.
The renewed push to revive the facility follows a meeting between Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel on 20 October. The meeting highlighted the project's prolonged inactivity and public expenditure, with over N$200 million spent on the waterfront over 17 years. Minister Daniel dispatched a technical team to the Zambezi Region to assess the facility's condition and determine the necessary steps to bring it into operation. The assessment aims to identify outstanding work and inform the government's next steps. However, no additional funding requirement or operational timeline has been announced.
The Katima Mulilo Town Council is promoting the town as a destination for tourism and investment, with a focus on attracting investment in hotels, restaurants, lodges, and conference facilities. The council encourages visitors to explore Katima Mulilo beyond the annual Zambezi Bream Festival and Cultural Expo. Joseph Minyoy, from the council's department of economic development, emphasised the need for more tourism facilities, including restaurants, lodges, and hotels. He also highlighted the importance of a convention centre to host events and attract more visitors.
To support tourism development, the council is committed to creating an environment that encourages private investment in tourism-related businesses. Mayor Kabende Kabende stated that one of the council's priorities is to facilitate access to appropriately planned and serviced land for investors. The council is also encouraging businesses and government institutions to establish branches in Katima Mulilo, with business registration and fitness applications available to those seeking to establish businesses.
The council's vision is to grow Katima Mulilo in a way that creates economic opportunities while improving residents' quality of life. Mayor Kabende emphasised that tourism investment can contribute meaningfully to this vision, provided that development remains inclusive and benefits the community. The council is working to address residents' needs, including the shortage of serviced land, housing, sanitation, roads, and other essential services.
The town faces significant challenges, including a housing backlog exceeding 6,000 units and over 2,000 applicants on the waiting list. To address the shortage, Mayor Kabende proposed servicing 200 residential plots annually over five years. The council has also prioritised land servicing, housing opportunities, and infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the construction of the town's wastewater treatment plant is expected to commence soon, which will improve sanitation and create capacity for future housing and land delivery.
The mayor encouraged visitors to explore Katima Mulilo throughout the year and support local accommodation providers, restaurants, craft markets, and transport services. He believes that tourism can create opportunities for young people in arts, culinary activities, fishing, agriculture, and event management. By balancing tourism development with addressing residents' needs, the council aims to create a thriving and inclusive community that benefits from tourism investment.
Key points
- The Katima Mulilo Town Council's engagements with the central government on revitalising the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park have reached an advanced stage.
- The council aims to unlock the town's tourism potential and create an environment that encourages private investment in tourism-related businesses.
- The town faces significant challenges, including a housing backlog and sanitation issues, which the council is working to address.
