Africa-Press – Namibia. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and parliamentarian Job Amupanda has reignited the debate over developing Cape Fria.
He proposed that the remote coastal area in the Kunene Region be transformed into a city.
He tabled a motion in Parliament this week, describing Cape Fria as a site of “immense strategic value” that could ease population pressure on Windhoek and drive economic growth.
The site is located about 130 kilometres (km) north of Mowe Bay and 300 km north-west of Opuwo.
“The developmental state requires imaginative minds and meticulous preparation for the future of our children,” Amupanda told lawmakers.
He argued that, for 35 years, Namibia has not created its own city from imagination and ingenuity.
“This is embarrassing and cannot continue,” he stressed.
Amupanda urged Parliament to declare Cape Fria, a specially planned city, and to establish a standing committee to explore study visits to countries that have successfully built cities from scratch, such as Brasília in Brazil, Canberra in Australia and Putrajaya in Malaysia.
He highlighted the site’s pristine beaches, scenic landscapes, cultural tourism potential and strategic location for a deep-water port and special economic zones (SEZs), which could bolster trade and investment.
The idea has long enjoyed regional backing.
Former Kunene governor Vipuakuje Muharukua, a consistent advocate for northern development, described the project as essential for unlocking the region’s potential.
“With commitment, collaboration and decisive action, Kunene can become Namibia’s most prosperous region – not just in resources, but also in opportunities for its people,” Muharukua told New Era.
Former Cabinet minister Jerry Ekandjo also linked the proposal to the late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s vision of a railway network spanning the country.
Speaking after Nujoma’s death on 8 February, Ekandjo recalled the late president’s dream of a 1 500km rail line stretching from Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region, past Orupembe and ending at Cape Fria on the Skeleton Coast, just 50km south of the Angolan border.
“President Nujoma was a visionary leader. He saw Cape Fria not just as a port, but as a gateway to connect Namibia to the wider region,” Ekandjo said.
Amupanda proposed that the motion be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee for further deliberation, including study visits to successfully planned cities abroad, before reporting back to the Assembly.
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