Power projects target improved livelihoods in Hardap
The residents of Burgershoek in Rehoboth and Empelheim Extension 5 in Mariental are set to benefit from improved living conditions and expanded economic opportunities following the commissioning of electricity infrastructure in the two communities on Saturday. The projects, inaugurated by the Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, in Burgershoek and on his behalf by Hardap Governor Riaan McNab in Empelheim Extension 5, form part of government's efforts to extend electricity access to underserved communities.
The electrification initiatives are expected to improve household living standards, create opportunities for small businesses and provide children with better conditions to study. Speaking at the Burgershoek inauguration, Amutse emphasised that electricity provision goes beyond installing infrastructure, saying it is an important step towards improving livelihoods and ensuring that development reaches communities that need it. The two projects form part of a broader electrification programme agreed upon in June 2025 between the ministry, Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) and the relevant town council to extend electricity access to underserved communities in the Hardap Region.
In Mariental, McNab, speaking on behalf of Amutse, said the project reflected government's commitment under the leadership of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to improving the lives of Namibians through the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). He said access to electricity was not merely about providing power, but also about restoring dignity, improving living conditions and creating an environment in which communities could participate in social and economic development. McNab highlighted that electricity would give households safer and more comfortable living conditions, while enabling children to study under better circumstances. For entrepreneurs and small businesses, it could support productive activities, business expansion, employment creation and income generation.
He further linked the projects to NDP6 Desired Outcome 0129, which aims to increase Namibia's national electricity access rate from 59.3% to 70% by 2030. The target forms part of government's broader development priorities, with the country also pursuing universal electricity access by 2040 under its national electrification policy. However, government called on residents to take responsibility for protecting the newly installed infrastructure against vandalism and illegal connections. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Edward Wambo urged communities to safeguard the infrastructure and use electricity responsibly, warning against illegal connections and the bypassing of electricity systems. He stressed that the success of electrification projects depended not only on government's investment but also on communities protecting and maintaining the infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Rehoboth Mayor Jacky Khariseb urged Burgershoek residents to make education a priority in their households. He said youth empowerment, employment creation, poverty eradication and improved service delivery remained important priorities for the town council and its leadership, adding that access to electricity would contribute towards addressing some of the challenges facing the community.
For the two communities, the projects mark an important step towards improved access to basic services, with government positioning rural and urban community electrification as part of its broader drive for inclusive development.
