OTJIWARONGO: The chairman of Safland Property Group Namibia, Ranga Haikali says the shopping complex under construction at Otjiwarongo might be completed before its target date of April 2013.

“Looking at the pace we are moving at, I am certain that the doors of some of the shops will be opened in November this year,” Haikali told Nampa on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the complex, which began in January this year.

Safland started with the actual construction in the middle of January, and divided the work into three construction phases. The company is investing more than N.dollars 55 million in the construction of the complex.

The Otjiwarongo complex will comprise shops such as Totalsports, Clicks, Mr Price, Hungry Lion, Truworths Man, Exact and Ackermans, many of which will be opening in the town for the first time.

Regional leaders praised Safland for its investment, which they say will boost Otjiwarongo’s economy.

Otjozondjupa Regional Governor Rapama Kamehozu, whose speech was delivered on his behalf by Otjozondjupa acting Chief Regional Officer Faustina Caley, said the new complex ‘will become the centre of commercial life’ in Otjiwarongo.

“I thank Safland Property Group Namibia for investing in Otjiwarongo, and I encourage you to seek more investment opportunities in the greater Otjozondjupa Region,” said the governor.

Otjiwarongo mayor Hilda Jesaya also expressed satisfaction with the pace at which the first phase of the complex is being completed.

“As a council and leaders of this town, we will strive to improve the development of the town with the objective of providing employment opportunities for our people,” she noted.

She explained that the shopping mall is an initiative of the Otjiwarongo Municipality in its efforts to upgrade the town’s image.