KEETMANSHOOP – Former Keetmanshoop rural constituency councilor, Gerrit ‘Gertjie’ Witbooi, has asked the electorate to give him a second chance as they cast their votes in the upcoming 2025 Regional Councils and Local Authorities Elections, scheduled for 26 November.
“You know my capabilities as I proved myself before, whilst we had such an excellent relationship, working together towards improving your socio-economic living conditions,” said the politician in an interview with New Era on Tuesday.
Witbooi previously served as a councilor on the ticket of the Landless Peoples Movement (LPM) but was recalled on 14 February 2023 due to unresolved differences.
Willem Labuschagne then filled his position.
However, this time around, Witbooi has entered the political arena as a candidate for the Swapo party.
For the second round, Witbooi promises to work closely with the Aroab and Koёs village councils, as well as the //Kharas regional council, to ensure that citizens receive the necessary basic services.
“My office will ensure access for residents to sanitation, portable water, a source of energy (solar/electricity) whilst in efforts to address a lack of housing, we will make sure that at least 50 houses are built in every village in the constituency, including the backyard dwellers of Krönlein suburb and seasonal workers at Naute dam,” he said.
He also mentioned that he will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop conference facilities and tourism structures at the neglected Van Rhyn Dam outside Krönlein suburb, while also ensuring Oute-Lain residents become the sole owners of their houses.
The politician explained that he will put measures in place to address the challenge in the region, which will include the implementation of a council resolution passed in 2021 providing that 100 hectares of land should be given to each of the seven constituencies in the //Kharas region, including Keetmanshoop rural, for producing crops and increasing food security.
“As leadership, we will also organise an investors conference next year, inviting all corporates and members of the business fraternity to come and board so that we can tackle unemployment in the region as a collective commitment,” he added.
Witbooi also said that his office will investigate trophy hunting and tourism opportunities within the nature conservation sites in the Klein Karas area, so that residents can optimally benefit from them.
“If I become the newly elected councilor, I will also revive the backyard gardening as well as chicken-and-livestock farming projects, which were a great success during my time as a former councilor,” he said.
The politician also promised to ensure that the Kein-Manasse-Aroab-Keetmanshoop and Koёs-Keetmanshoop tar roads construction will be expedited to make services (health, tertiary education, shopping) more accessible for citizens in the Keetmanshoop rural constituency.
-sklukowski@nepc.com.na