Fire station for Okahandja
The Okahandja municipality held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for a new fire station and the acquisition of machinery, funded through a public-private partnership with Bank Windhoek.Bank Windhoek’s Okahandja branch manager, Claus Stein, congratulated the municipality on the project, emphasizing the fire station’s role in protecting the community. He also highlighted the bank’s commitment to providing financing options that support clients and contribute to their success. Bank Windhoek financed N$7.2 million for machinery to aid the municipality’s operations.
Currently, emergency services operate from the Okahandja Town Council’s workshop, which lacks proper facilities for overnight firefighters, limiting their ability to respond to fires and road accidents. The municipality reports handling around 72 shack fires, four to five house fires, and 80% of road accidents annually.
Mayor Beatrice Kotungondo praised the partnership with Bank Windhoek, which enhances service delivery to Okahandja residents.
Pasella Nunda, Okahandja’s Strategic Executive Officer of Finance, noted that the project not only improves public safety but also stimulates the local economy. He mentioned that the construction phase will create jobs and attract further investment, contributing to the area’s growth and development.
Stein concluded by expressing Bank Windhoek’s anticipation of the positive impact the completed fire station and new machinery will have on the Okahandja community and its municipality.