OSHAKATI – Chairperson of the Omusati Regional Council management committee, Daniel Iilende, has called on councillors, local authorities and stakeholders to shift focus from planning to implementation to deliver measurable development outcomes in the region.

Speaking at the official opening of the Omusati Regional Council sessions for 2026 on Friday, lilende said the year marks a new chapter characterised by renewed political leadership, strategic direction and developmental urgency, anchored in the implementation of Vision 2030, the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the Swapo election manifesto.

“These are not mere policy documents. They capture important tenets of our social contracts with our people. 

They articulate our collective vision, priorities, and commitment to transform the livelihoods, strengthen local economic growth and delivery of inclusive development. Our focus should therefore shift from planning to implementation.

From intention to measurable impact,” he said.
Iilende emphasised the need for collective leadership, urging political leaders and administrators to adopt innovative approaches effectively and implement projects timely and provide tangible solutions to problems facing the people.

“As we embark on our development journey, our collective efforts should take precedence over individual focus. As a team of political leaders and administrators, we should be innovative in our approaches, for we are called to understand that we are in an era of no business as usual. 

We should plan more effectively, implement projects timely and provide tangible solutions to problems facing our people,” he said.

Iilende further said the business community is the backbone of service delivery, socio-economic development and employment creation in the region, urging them to uphold accountability and the timely completion of projects.

“I would like to assure you that the government will never cease making deliberate efforts to create a friendly environment for the private sector to thrive. Together, we should uphold the principles of trust, accountability and integrity by completing projects on time and exposing corrupt practices,” he added.

The council should remain committed to development initiatives that address community needs in urban and rural areas, particularly in infrastructure, basic services, youth empowerment, food security and economic diversification, while supporting young people to access targeted government programmes, he concluded.
-Nampa