The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has authorised an amount of N$55.4 million for the Omaheke Regional Council’s operational expenditure for the 2022/23 financial year.
This amount includes remuneration for regional councillors and staff members, subsistence and travelling allowance, transport, utilities and maintenance of service infrastructure in the settlement areas.
This was announced by the council’s spokesperson Tauno Iileka, who said the line ministry will subsidise the regional council’s operational budget by N$45.6 million.
The rest of the income, amounting to over N$13.97 million, will be sourced from the council’s own revenue, mainly through the provision of municipal services in the settlement areas, such as water provision, sewerage management, refuse removal and electricity surcharges.
The council has set aside N$6.9 million for the construction of service infrastructure in all settlements, which include water reticulation in Aminuis, Corridor 13, Eiseb 10, Tsjaka and Drimiopsis.
The N$6.9 million form part of the allocated funds for the Omaheke regional council, which during the 2022/23 financial year received a budget allocation of N$15.9 million for various development projects in the region.
The projects include the construction of Corridor 13 and Aminuis settlement offices at N$5 million and N$3 million, respectively.
Iikela said Corridor 13 settlement office is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with possible savings to be reallocated to other projects.
He highlighted the allocation for the Aminuis settlement office will be used for retention payment, also with possible savings to be reallocated to other projects, as the office has already been completed.
All reallocations are subject to approval by the National Planning Commission in terms of the State Finance Act, No. 31 of 1991.
Other projects include a new borehole to be drilled in Summerdown, while an existing one in Eiseb 10 will be re-installed and another one in Tsjaka will be cleaned.
The allocation for Tallismanus will be used to complete the ongoing construction of a dumping site, while the construction of a water tower and sewer system in Eiseb 10 will also be completed.
In Omitara, the oxidation pond will be upgraded, while the allocation for Buitepos will be used to complete the ongoing construction of 72 toilets and install prepaid water meters.
Iikela said the Road Fund Administration has allocated N$1.1 million to the regional council, which will be used to maintain streets in Epukiro Pos 3.
This, he said, will address the extensive road erosions in the settlement.
A further N$1.4 million has been allocated for the provision of basic sanitation facilities for rural communities in the region.
The regional council is also busy implementing capital projects for the Witvlei village council due to limited capacity in the village council.
An amount of N$946 000 has been allocated for the completion of a sewer treatment plant and a sewer reticulation system.
In terms of rural development, the urban and rural development ministry has allocated N$269 230.77 for the implementation of various projects in the
region.
Specific action plan initiatives are aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural communities through income generation and ensuring food security.
– anakale@nepc.com.na