Steven Klukowski
KEETMANSHOOP- Prime Minister Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila says the private sector will be more willing to invest in the //Kharas region if the regional political leaders work together as a team, instead of operating in isolation. She sent out this stern message to the political and administrative leadership during her recent two-day visit, engaging them to assess and discuss government projects in the region.
“How can we expect potential investors to come on board if we cannot agree upon issues and work together as a team, irrespective of our political association?” she asked. The premier continued that once political parties start talking to each other, they would realise they have much more in common than issues setting them apart.
“It is important that we should, as leaders, pull the wagon in the same direction to address challenges, and it is my hope that this will continue in future on issues of the day,” she said. The government head of administration also expressed her concern and disappointment during the meeting on why the governor delivered her last two State of the Region Addresses (SORA) in the absence of some //Kharas regional councillors.
“This is a violation of the law in terms of the Namibian Constitution,” she warned. The premier also reminded some councillors present that since the regional governor is the direct representative of the Namibian President, they should remember that if she speaks, the President speaks.
Kuukongelw-Amadhila was, furthermore, adamant in her stance that the country’s executive power is vested in the President and Cabinet only or by virtue of delegation. “The implementation of delegated functionary is, thus, subjected to control of central government – and if you are not willing to listen to the regional representative of the President (governor), how can you feel your concerns are not addressed,” she asked the councillors.
She also reminded them that when appointed to political power, leaders are as a result entrusted to discharge the powers of the Namibian nation. “We are, thus, not the owners of these powers,” she added. The Prime Minister also informed the audience that the political leadership in the region is working towards achieving some objectives, giving priority to the Namibian nation.
“In terms of the uncompleted capital projects in the region, it is the right of citizens to know what the reasons are and what will be done about it,” she said. She also advised the political leaders to start considering innovative measures, such as private-public partnerships, to raise funds for the completion of projects, instead of citing a lack of funding from central government as the main reason for it.
“You should, furthermore, start to capacitate those officials involved in implementing these projects, for in doing so, they will know not to appoint contractors who are not performing,” the Premier advised the politicians.
She also advised them to do proper budgetary planning before implementing projects. “You cannot build a clinic tomorrow and only appoint nurses three years later there,” she explained.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that these projects will be completed soonest, as well as that of the next Sora to be held with full inputs from all government offices, ministries and agencies and in close consultation with the whole regional political leadership.
In his contribution, //Kharas regional council chairperson Joseph Isaacks said it is unfortunate that the prime minister addressed issues one-sided, where not everybody could have provided their inputs in advance.
“I also want to thank you, Right Honorable Prime Minister, for observing the division in political powers in the region, but one should also look into the reasons for it without referring to the association of political parties,” he
said.
Isaacks reasoned that the PM should also be sensitive to feedback on issues. “This country belongs to all of us, but natural justice is sometimes required to have the other side of the story on some issues of concern,” he informed Kuukongelwa-Amadhila. The chairperson concluded it is always good to talk to one another on issues and in the same vein sometimes differ for the sake of democracy.