By Ester Paulus TSUMEB The Oshikoto Region is currently holding its Rural Development Conference in Tsumeb. The conference is part of nation-wide week-long regional rural development conferences initiated by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development. Officially opening the conference on Monday, the Governor of Oshikoto Region, Penda Ya Ndakolo, highlighted the key aims of rural development. He said: “Rural development is about the efficient delivery of quality education, adequate health centers, upgrading of roads, potable water supply, electrification of households, community development and decent housing in rural areas.” Meanwhile, the main aim of the conference is to sensitize participants to identify implementable strategies that will redress the poverty-stricken communities in Oshikoto Region. The conference further aims at discussing and agreeing on common objectives, achievable targets, key priorities and workable programmes that will have a significant impact on transforming the livelihoods of deprived citizens. The Governor stressed that the conference will ultimately come up with a rural development plan that will underscore how the various constituencies in the region can positively make use of the natural resources in an effort to mutually uplift the plight of the living standards of rural inhabitants. The conference, that is being attended by regional councillors, representatives of line ministries, staff members of the Oshikoto Regional Council as well as Constituency Development Committee members, is being held under the theme of “Enhancing and contributing to the sustainable plan for the upliftment of the quality of life and economy of the rural population in line with Vision 2030”.