By William J. Mbangula Outapi The mayor of Windhoek, Matheus Shikongo, says partnerships between all spheres of government and the public and corporate sectors are the key remedies to the challenges of local governance. He said this at a signing ceremony last Friday for renewed cooperation between the City of Windhoek and the Outapi Town Council. Shikongo, who was accompanied to Outapi by a high-level delegation which included councillors from the opposition parties, noted that it was important for the local authorities to establish cooperation and partnership relations in order to share resources, knowledge and experiences for mutual benefit. Said the mayor of the economic and political capital of Namibia: “I am inclined to believe that what has inspired such motive was the recognition of the fact that in today’s globalised world, nations, cities, towns and villages can hardly afford to exist, operate and survive in isolation. Thus, today’s world has indeed become a global village. He added that in particular terms this does not only mean free capital of mobility, efficient information and experience sharing and eventual improved local governance, but also sharing of common opportunities and challenges.” In his view, it was not surprising that as political leaders of democratically elected local authorities, they need to embrace partnership and cooperation as an effective tool through which capacity building, effective exchange of information, resource sharing, experience and expertise could be realised. Shikongo noted that he was happy that progress was made during the five-year (2002 to 2007) cooperation between the two councils. He lauded the Outapi Town Council for being one of the small local authorities that have signed a cooperation agreement with the City of Windhoek and has kept it vibrant. The mayor of Outapi Matheus Ndeshitila noted that his council had benefited from the five-year cooperation agreement in many ways. Among these are the exchange of working visits by staff from both local authorities, the exchange of relevant policy documents, the design of technical projects by the City of Windhoek for Outapi Town Council, and the exchange of knowledge and experiences in various aspects such as tourism, marketing and advertising, local economic development, small and medium enterprises, training of outsourced contractors and many others. The delegation from the City of Windhoek included Agnes Kafula, Linea Shaetonhodi, Boas Ekandjo, Hileni Iilonga, all Swapo councillors, Herbert Schultz (CoD) and Welna Klaasen (UDF). Some officials were the Windhoek Municipality’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Niilo Taapopi, the Manager: Public Relations Affairs, Ndangi Katoma and the personal assistant to the mayor Chris Eita. Before signing the renewed agreement, the delegation was taken on a familiarisation tour of the town where they visited places such as the Foam Mattress Factory, sugar processing facility, bicycle assembly plant, bakery, newly developed ervens, Outapi Town Lodge, newly constructed open market at Onhimbu and other interesting places. The delegation paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Omusati, Sackey Kayone.