Former media personality Modestus Amutse who is the regional councillor for Oshikuku Constituency was on Friday sworn in as the new chairperson of the Omusati Regional Council.
He was also sworn in as member of the management committee, taking over from Tataati Simon Shileka who was the councillor for Outapi Constituency.
The charismatic Amutse was nominated by his close ally Titus Kanyele of Onesi Constituency and seconded by the new councillor of Etayi, Johannes Elisa.
The new councillors who were sworn in are Werner Kalipi of Anamulenge, Johannes Elisa (Etayi), Leonard Shikulo (Okahao), Phillemon Shikwambi (Outapi), Amunkete Junias (Tsandi), Iipinge Laurence Makana (Okalongo) and Andreas Shintama of Ruacana Constituency.
Willem Iiyambo of Ogongo, Gerhard Shiimi of Elim and Titus Kanyele of Onesi retained their councillorship for another five years. The Omusati Region is one of the regions that failed to implement the 50-50 gender balance representation as all the elected councillors are males.
Titus Kanyele, Gerhard Shiimi and Warner Kalipi were elected to represent the Omusati Region in the National Council, while veteran Willem Iiyambo and newcomers Leonard Shikulo and Andreas Shintama form part of the management committee.
At the same occasion, the Outapi Town Council saw its council members also being sworn in, which saw the mid-30-year-old Selma Nelago Asino who is an official at the Swapo Party regional office elected as mayor, deputised by the outgoing mayor Mathews Ndeshitila.
The Outapi Town Council is one of the few local authorities that has implemented the 50-50 Swapo zebra policy as the council comprises of four women and three men.
Incoming chairperson of the Omusati Regional Council, Amutse, called on fellow councillors to work hard to bring about sustainable regional development in the country.
He noted that both local authority and regional councillors should work together to tackle challenges that face the region such as drought, gender-based violence and unemployment.
On his part, outgoing chairperson of the Omusati Regional Council, Tataati Simon Shileka, called on the government to consider availing funds to constituency offices to effectively implement various poverty eradication programmes as per expectations of the electorate.
Shileka noted the region has fast become developed since independence, pointing out road infrastructure and health as two of the areas in which that the region has made great strides.
• Lot Shikongo is an information officer at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) in Omusati Region.