Development slowly trickles in sleepy Tsintsabis

• BY MARX ITAMALO

According to some residents who spoke to the Confidente, the situation is so bad that the health of the residents is compromised and in  THE once inactive and sleepy settlement of Tsintsabis in Oshikoto is slowly catching up with the rest of the developing world following some new developmental initiatives that took shape a few months ago. 

This is according to the settlement chief and head, Thaneb Geelbooi.  Geelbooi has, in the past interviews with the Confidente newspaper, lamented the lack of development in his community. He stressed it was the source of the social evils devouring his community, especially the youth.

Last week, the chief informed the Confidente that two developmental initiatives had warmed his heart. This comes in the form of a brickmaking project recently established at the settlement and a community garden that also took shape a few months back. “As we speak there is some development taking place. A community member just recently established a brickmaking project for the community. Here, some youths will earn an income by working at the project. The bricks will be sold to the business community and farmers around the settlement,” he told Confidente via cellular phone. He pointed out that a community member set up the brickmaking project and employed six community members.

Another project that exited the community chief was a community garden established at the settlement beginning of February this year. According to Geelbooi, the community garden has started selling vegetables to the community and a local school. “If you look around, our people are very vulnerable and do not even know how to start a backyard garden. Someone from Tsumeb came here and assisted the people in setting up the garden,” he stressed, adding that the garden is being run and managed by selected community members who also oversee its finances. “We made sure to include many women in the garden project because they are the most vulnerable and unlikely to come across any job opportunity, unlike their male counterparts,” he pointed out.

Geelbooi said the brickmaking community, although private property, is a good initiative since it has created employment for community members. He said the garden was set up with finances from a donor who wanted to remain anonymous. “The person who assisted with the garden is a prominent figure and does not want her name mentioned for political reasons.”  Ten community members work in the garden on the outskirts of the settlement, where they produce cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables, Geelbooi indicated.

Asked how he believed these two projects would alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of his people, the chief elucidated: “What I want to tell you here is that there are many people in Tsintsabis who go by a week without seeing a dollar, especially the youth who don’t get any government benefits like some of the elderly here.  “So, if someone can work on one of those projects and gets even N$400 per month, is that not enough? I believe these two projects can make a difference, and the results are already starting to show,” he pointed out.

Speaking to Confidente from Tsintsabis, two youths from the settlement expressed optimism about their prospects. Each one of them is employed in one of the projects. Desmond Haraseb said, gazing at his crystal balls; his future looksw bright.  “For the past two months that I have been employed here, things look good. I was able to buy a few items and settle some bad debts with my salary,” the Grade 7 dropout told Confidente.

Another youth, Sussie Eichas, said working in the garden has changed her life.  She noted that in the past, she and fellow youth would be loitering around the settlement drinking or smoking while the time with nothing productive to do.

“I still do smoke and drink, but not in the morning and during the day. We are occupied most of the time, and there is no more time to do those bad things.  “It is just the same with my other fellow workers,” she pointed out, hinting that although they have not received a proper salary yet, they are optimistic when harvesting large quantities of vegetables.

Geelbooi implored investors to come on board and do business in Tsintsabis.  “People say Tsintsabis is a remote and boring place. I disagree. We are strategically located, and if one can, for instance, bring a guesthouse or hotel with entertainment facilities, they will make good business. We also need an institution like a vocational training center. People will come all the nearby places to attend here because Tsumeb is far,” he noted.