Plans are at an advanced stage to construct a smart and modern city on the shores of the Kaokoland.
The city, to be known as Kaoko Fria Smart City, will be one of its kind in Namibia, a megacity and deep-sea port to be the largest, most ambitious, and visionary development in the history of Namibia.
The city, being spearheaded by Kaoko Fria Investment (Pty) Ltd, aligns with the dream of Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma to create a gateway along the coast of northwestern Namibia where “Namibia meets the world”.
According to Mr Michael Petrus, the managing director of Kaoko Fria Invesment (Pty) Ltd, the new development “integrates a state-of-the-art deep-sea port at Cate Fria/Angra Fria, which will be connected by railway to a dry port in Katima Mulilo.
“The railway will also serve as a major transport link for the northern region, offering residents and travelers the option of taking a smart train.”
The megacity project will feature a modern highway network, a smart city with mixed-use zones, housing developments, manufacturing hubs, energy facilities, technology innovation centres, health and education institutions, tourist districts, a FIFA-level stadium, and green waterfronts.
“The city will additionally host a new international airport, Vemuii Tjambiru International Airport, named in honour of the Chief of the Kakurukouje Traditional Authority, in which jurisdiction the city will be built,” said Petrus.
In a letter dated 29 June 2023, Chief Vemuii Tjambiru of Etanga Village, granted permission for the envisaged development project, stating that “our office […] approves the required identified land for the aforementioned development project that requires 42000 hectares located at the uppermost West Coast of Cape Fria of Namibia in Kunene Region, Kaokoland, by the Atlantic shoreline about 200km to the south of the Angolan border to make this lucrative project a reality for our community, region and nation at large.
“We look forward to your soonest implementation in this regard.”
Spokesperson for Kaoko Fria Smart City, Mr Immanuel Nghifikwa, said that in terms of economic impact, in its first phase Kaoko Fria Smart City will employ over 105 000 Namibians, with a long-term projection of 250 000 jobs over the next 10 years.
“This will represent the largest employment creation strategy in Namibia’s post-independence era,” he said.
In the photo: The envisaged design of Kaoko Fria Smart City.
