MURURANI – Prayers have been answered for agricultural officials in the Directorate of Veterinary Services and at forestry duty stations in Kavango who have for years executed their duties diligently but gong home to sleep in makeshift shacks.
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa on Friday opened the first $22,7 million facility at Mururani that will serve as an office complex and houses for officials and with cattle holding pens.
Many of the officials were forced to live in shacks over the years as only two brick houses, which could only accommodate two staff members, were available. The other five officials had to reside in shacks. “This situation was found unacceptable and had to be improved. This situation is still prevalent at some of the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and forestry duty stations like at the Kongola checkpoint,” said Mutorwa. Mururani is located some 13 kilometers south of Rundu.
The Governor of the two Kavango Regions, Ambassador Samuel Mbambo and Rosalia Mwadina Sibiya, standing in for Otjozondjupa Governor Samuel Nuuyoma, attended the opening.
Mutorwa noted that there are still many good things that must come from the Namibian forestry sector. “I strongly believe that the full potential of the forestry sector is yet to be discovered and exploited. I know that some community forests have been officially declared and gazetted in different parts of the country but I remain unconvinced that everything is being done to ensure that communities, in those areas where such forests are located, are adequately assisted and guided to ensure that they derive maximum benefits from such forest resources,” said the minister.
According to the minister, a number of directorates of the ministry are too centralised and not properly or adequately staffed. “Not having properly suited staff members at the regional level makes decentralisation of authority and services virtually and practically impossible,” he said.
Mutorwa is hopeful that the precarious situation will be remedied once the ministry’s restructuring process is finalised.
By Mathias Haufiku