The Usab Informal Settlement in Karibib was officially electrified on Thursday, a project spearheaded by QKR Namibia’s Navachab Gold Mine. The handover of the project, which now powers 257 households, was framed not merely as a social welfare initiative but as a critical economic catalyst designed to unlock local potential and align with Namibia’s broader developmental ambitions.
The Managing Director of Navachab Gold Mine, George Botshiwe, delivered a powerful address at the ceremony, positioning the mine’s corporate social investment as a strategic economic enabler. In front of a gathering that included the Right Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangue Ithete, and the Honourable Governor of the Erongo Region, Natalia /Goagoses, Botshiwe articulated a vision where mining transcends resource extraction to become a foundational pillar for sustainable community empowerment and economic growth.
“We believe that mining is not just about extracting resources; but it’s a critical enabler to empower communities,” Botshiwe stated. “It is about ensuring that the benefits of our natural wealth are felt by our citizens. We are talking tangible, life-changing benefits.” This philosophy, he explained, is the driving force behind the mine’s partnership with ErongoRED, the Karibib Town Council, and the Usab Informal Settlement (UIS) Committee.
The economic angle of the Usab Electrification Project is multi-faceted. By bringing affordable and clean energy to 257 homes, the initiative does more than just light up rooms; it powers a micro-economic revolution. Children can extend their study hours after sunset, improving educational outcomes that form the basis of a future skilled workforce. Small and home-based businesses, from tailoring and welding to refrigeration and phone charging, can now operate efficiently and for longer hours, directly boosting household incomes and stimulating local commerce. This directly supports the goals of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of affordable energy, sustainable cities, and poverty reduction.
Botshiwe positioned this project as a tangible outcome of effective public-private partnerships (PPPs), a model he passionately advocated for. He referenced his participation in the Namibian Public Private Forum just a day prior, highlighting its aim to develop strategies to achieve the goals of NDP6, including the creation of 500,000 jobs as called for by Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Ndaiwah. “Through such partnerships these goals can be achieved,” he asserted, “and today is a testament of the success that can be achieved.”
Demonstrating a long-term commitment to this PPP model, Botshiwe made a major announcement, pledging further funds for the next phase of electrification in Karibib communities. “No one must be left behind,” he declared, signalling a sustained investment in local infrastructure that forms the bedrock of economic activity.
In a move that further solidifies Navachab’s role as a key economic actor in the region, Botshiwe also provided a significant update on a previously announced world-class medical centre for Karibib. He revealed that the project, with a total cost of just over N$80 million, is now at the tender stage for its first phase, with construction slated to begin in November. Crucially, he emphasised that one of the tender conditions is the employment of local Karibib residents, especially the youth. This stipulation ensures that the project’s economic benefits are immediately felt through job creation, upskilling, and the injection of wages into the local economy, even before the facility is completed.
This integrated approach—combining immediate infrastructure development with longer-term investments in health and human capital—exemplifies a modern corporate strategy that views community welfare and economic vitality as intrinsically linked. Botshiwe outlined Navachab’s CSI approach as being driven by five key pillars: Infrastructure Development, Education and Training, Health and Wellbeing, Safety and Security, and Entrepreneurship and Job Creation. He stressed these are not just boxes to be ticked but are commitments the company lives by.
The event served as a powerful reminder that true development is measured not by grand gestures but by real impact on everyday lives. “It is about lighting a home, so a child can study at night. It is about connecting a small business to power, so it can grow and thrive,” Botshiwe remarked.
As the 257 families of Usab begin a new chapter with access to reliable electricity, the project stands as a beacon of what is possible when corporate stewardship aligns with national vision. For Navachab Gold Mine, the Usab electrification and the forthcoming medical centre are strategic investments in Namibia’s most valuable resource: its people. In lighting up Usab, Navachab has not only powered homes but has also energised the local economy, setting a compelling precedent for other private sector players to follow in the collective march towards achieving the ambitious targets of NDP6. The message is clear: in the partnership between the public and private sectors lies the most powerful current to drive Namibia’s economic future.