KEETMANSHOOP – The government reiterated its stated goal to create 90 000 jobs through its ambitious public works programme – the Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (Tipeeg) in response to the high unemployment rate in the country, the National Planning Commission (NPC) announced on Monday.

This was highlighted at Keetmanshoop by the deputy chief national development advisor of the NPC responsible for regional planning, Vekondja Tjikuzu, during a Regional Development Profile workshop held for all regions.

According to Tjikuzu the goal of NDP4 is to create 90 000 jobs and to reduce the high unemployment rate within a period of five years.
“We want to enable sectors such as environment, health and the education and skills sector, to further reduce poverty and improve public infrastructure,” he stressed. He further said mobilising transport and logistics, agriculture and manufacturing and tourism would be key in realising Vision 2030. The workshop is attended by constituency councillors from the regions, senior government officials and representatives of village councils, municipalities and town councils.

The chairperson of the //Karas Regional Council, Jan Scholtz, said during a previous meeting they reached the conclusion that  there is a serious need to devise a strategy that would help the NPC, the governor’s office and the regional council to plan and work together at all levels in the future. “It was also agreed that while directing the course of national development is within the mandate of the NPC, the top leadership at regional level should be consulted at all times,” said Scholtz. The meeting also agreed to formalise regular consultations between the director general of the NPC, the governors and chairpersons of the regional councils in terms of development planning.

By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa