Outapi
Regional Governor of Omusati Erginus Endjala has lashed out at government officials, who seem to have an agenda of sabotaging the region’s development by not showing up at key and strategic regional meetings aimed at consulting and drafting crucial strategies to move the region forward in terms of development.
Last year, Endjala – who was Swapo party’s regional coordinator – also tongue-lashed councillors who continuously dishonoured regional invitations.
Speaking recently at a consultative meeting at Outapi, Endjala expressed disappointment with what he termed a “growing trend” by some line ministries in his region and key stakeholders to continuously dishonour invitations to attend to important meetings in the region. According to Endjala, most of these meetings are critical in coming up with mechanisms to fast track development.
The governor said people should respect the offices they hold and concentrate on the work that they have been entrusted with by the voters. “My task is to ensure that people who are entrusted with responsibilities by the government represent the people and deliver the services and thereof take their responsibilities seriously and give their input where needed,” said Endjala.
Regional councillors, local authority chief executive officers, line ministries and Swapo Party district coordinators in the region attended the meeting.
The recent meeting was aimed at obtaining input from stakeholders in the region in order to draft the governor’s declaration of intent requested by President Hage Geingob. The declaration of intent is set to guide the governors and ministers on what they aim to deliver within a period of five years.
The governor said he would no longer accept shallow apologies made by officials when called for meetings. “In future, I will only accept apologies made in critical events such as death in the family or when one is sick and the apology must be communicated well in advance,” said the regional governor.
The meeting identified projects and priority areas to be contained in the governor’s declaration of intent that include the extension of Olushandja Dam (Etaka), expansion of the Etunda irrigation project and construction of various infrastructure such as roads, clinics, classrooms and sports facilities.
These projects and priority areas have been identified as key to bringing about sustainable development in terms of job creation and poverty eradication.
The governor is expected to submit his declaration of intent to the Head of State.
* Lot Shikongo works for the Information and Communication Technology Ministry as an Information and Communication Officer in Omusati Region