OUTJO – On a hot afternoon in Seringkop in the Outjo constituency of the Kunene region, children gather under a half-finished school roof. The roof is a solemn promise to them of something their parents never had: a proper school. Their laughter echoes across the dusty yard, where bricks and timber lie waiting to complete what will soon be their first early childhood development centre.

For regional councillor Antsino Johannes of Outjo, the past five years have been about more than politics. They have been about leaving a legacy of hope, especially for the youngest and most vulnerable children.

His proudest achievement, he says, is the construction of new kindergartens and classrooms in Seringkop and in Outjo’s informal settlements – projects that are already transforming lives.

For these children from the San community, and for many more across Outjo constituency, that promise exists because of one man – councillor Johannes.

Over the past five years, he has quietly built a legacy of service rooted in education, empowerment, and dignity.

“When you invest in children, you invest in the future. That is what kept me going. Even when resources were limited, I used what I had to make sure our children could learn in dignity,” he told New Era in a pre-election coverage initiative interview in Outjo recently.

Education

Johannes said his proudest achievement has been the construction of kindergartens and classrooms in both rural and informal settlements. At Seringkop, the San headquarters, he mobilised resources to build a new early childhood development (ECD) centre. This is no small step. For decades, San children have started their education late – or sometimes never at all – because there were no facilities near their homes.

“We realised that children from marginalised groups were being left behind. I said, no, we cannot wait any longer. 

I started reaching out to government, to private individuals, and even used my own entertainment allowance. Education cannot wait,” Johannes explained.

In Outjo town’s informal settlements, where many farmworkers and domestic workers live, the councillor pushed for another initiative. Two classrooms and an office block were constructed, and already 45 children are enrolled.

For him, education is not just about buildings. It is about giving dignity and equal opportunity.

Sacrifice

One of the remarkable aspects of Johannes’ leadership is his personal sacrifice. While many politicians spend their allowances on travel or leisure, he made a different choice.

“Since I started, I have never used my entertainment allowance for myself. I told myself, let this money go where it makes a difference. Sometimes it built classrooms, sometimes it went to a community centre. That is leadership,” he said firmly.

In another case, when two women were running a makeshift kindergarten with a wooden structure donated by a tourist, Johannes provided cement, sand, and tools. He did not stop there – he joined volunteers to make bricks by hand.

Darkness

For years, the residents of Ehangano informal settlement lived in darkness. Promises of electricity were always postponed because funds were said to be insufficient. Johannes refused to accept this excuse.

He invited the mayor and secured a meeting with Cenored’s CEO. When told there was no budget, he pushed back. “I told them resources will never be enough. At least start with 10 or 20 houses. From there, people will see progress,” he recalled. His office contributed N$200,000 to kickstart the work. Today, 90% of Ehangano is electrified.

“It was a matter of dignity. Children can now study at night. Families can feel safe. This is what service should look like,” he noted.

Johannes also prioritised water and sanitation. In Seringkop, Tufreg and Verda, new boreholes were drilled and old ones repaired to provide reliable drinking water.

He supported rural sanitation projects, ensuring households had proper toilets. In Kap en Bou settlement, his office installed prepaid water points so residents could fetch clean water closer to home.

These small but vital interventions are often invisible in political speeches, but they change daily lives for ordinary families.

Fighting hunger

Johannes believes food security is the foundation of independence. She supported community gardens in Queen Sophia, Serenkop, Bellalaika, Nuhas and Nisan. His office provided fencing, pipes, water barrels and gardening tools, while schools such as Outjo Secondary and Queen Sophia Primary received garden equipment.

For him, every tomato harvested by a family, every cabbage taken from a school garden, is a victory against hunger.

Youth and women

The councillor also invested in young people and women. He assisted three youth groups – one in catering, another in publishing, and a third in event management – with equipment valued at over N$30 000 per group.

At Queen Sophia, he supported a women’s sewing group with machines, training, and fabric. The aim was to produce school uniforms locally and create jobs. “I believe in empowering people to create income for themselves. It is not enough to give food aid; we must give skills and tools,” Johannes emphasised.

Challenges

Despite these achievements, Johannes is open about the challenges he faced. Regional councillors in Namibia have no independent budget for their constituencies.

“We know the needs of our people, but without funds, it is like being soldiers without guns. That is why I support the Constituency Development Fund Bill. It will allow us to act faster and change lives directly,” he said.

The lack of resources sometimes pushed him to step in personally – from paying for community projects to buying coffins for families who could not bury their loved ones. As election season approaches, Johannes reflects on her tenure with pride.

“When I look at those children learning in the classrooms we built, I know I did not waste my time. 

That is the future of Outjo, the future of Namibia,” he said. His record is one of turning scarcity into opportunity, of choosing service over self, and of putting the most vulnerable at the centre of development.

For the San children of Seringkop, the farmworkers’ children in Outjo’s informal settlement, and the families who now drink clean water or switch on a light at night, Councillor Johannes’ legacy is already written in their daily lives. It is the legacy of a councillor who built hope, one classroom, one borehole, and one garden at a time. –ljason@nepc.com.na