KARIBIB – Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses has cautioned residents of the Erongo region not to take democracy for granted. She was addressing residents at the Karibib Usab Sport Stadium on Saturday during celebrations marking Namibia’s 36th Independence Day.

Hundreds of residents from the seven constituencies were transported by buses to Karibib to attend the country’s independence celebrations, which were commemorated in each region.

Goagoses said the day is not only about celebrations but also to reflect and remember the sacrifices made for the country’s freedom and the responsibility to protect it.

She added that Independence Day is both a celebration and a moment of reflection and called upon everyone to honour the sacrifices endured for our freedom and to renew our commitment to building a united, prosperous and inclusive Namibia.

“The democracy we enjoy today cannot be taken for granted,” /Goagoses said. “It is incumbent upon all of us to maintain and safeguard this democracy, peace and stability.”According to her, there is a need for unity and inclusive development as the region moves forward.

She then acknowledged that some parts of the region have been battling water challenges and that she has prioritised water scarcity, road safety and improved accountability in development funding, particularly programmes aimed at supporting youth, women and vulnerable groups.

“Erongo is one of the mineral-rich regions and with all that richness we cannot allow our people to be poor,” she said.

She added that steps are being taken to address these challenges.

“We have water scarcity. Therefore, as a region, we are going to have a water dialogue in the coming two weeks to see how we can sustainably address the water challenges in our region.”

She said she is also in the process of reviewing the Erongo development fund so that it becomes more impactful. “We want to ensure there is an Erongo Development Fund where these monies will be deposited and accounted for,” she said. “These funds are meant to assist the youth, women and those in need to drive development in the region.”

Erongo regional council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe also said the region continues to play an important role in the country’s economy, but pointed out that development must be felt by communities. “The Erongo region continues to play a critical role in Namibia’s development,” he said. “We are a region of contribution, innovation and potential.”

“Our greatest task remains ensuring that this growth translates into meaningful change in the lives of our people,” he added.

Meanwhile, youth representative Fumanekeni Petrus said young people must position themselves to benefit from economic opportunities.

“It is imperative that young people do not remain spectators in this transformation happening in the region,” he said. He added that when young people are organised, they are able to identify opportunities, access markets and form enterprises.

“Without the youth, there can be no sustainable future,” he said.

A veteran of Namibia’s liberation struggle, Risto Kapendah, questioned why communities remain poor despite the country’s vast natural resource wealth. Delivering a solidarity message, he said while independence was achieved through sacrifice, economic freedom remains incomplete. “Namibia is endowed with mineral deposits, yet our people remain among the poorest in the world,” he said. “The people in Karibib have never seen gold, and those in Arandis and Swakopmund have never seen uranium, except those working in the mines.”

Kapendah also raised concern over inequality, noting that the country’s Gini coefficient remains high. “As we celebrate the 36th Independence Day, our Gini coefficient remains 59.1,” he said.

He then called for urgent policy reform in the management of mineral resources to ensure broader benefits for citizens.

“Let us rewrite the rules governing our mining and mineral resources to add value and benefit the people of Namibia,” he appealed.

-edeklerk@nepc.com.na