Following last year’s regional council and local authority elections, councillors from various constituencies countrywide have taken office, with some newly elected and others re-elected. 

In today’s edition, New Era profiles constituency councillors from the Omaheke region. 

The region has a population of over 102 881 inhabitants, and consists of seven constituencies: Otjombinde, Kalahari, Okorukambe, Epukiro, Gobabis, Otjinene and Aminuis, all headed by elected regional councillors. 

The region has one town, which is Gobabis, and three villages (Leonardville, Otjinene and Witvlei) which are proclaimed local authority areas.  Omaheke has eight recognised traditional authorities from different communities who serve as advisers to the President on issues of communal land and other traditional matters.  The regional seat is in Gobabis, about 200 kilometres from the capital, Windhoek.

The majority of the western, central and south-western Omaheke is occupied by privately-owned freehold farms, comprising around 900 households. 

Across the region, there are 924 locales in communal/rural areas, most of which are traditional villages.  Despite its many opportunities, the Omaheke region has identified three prominent economic activities with comparativ  e and competitive advantages: livestock production, transport and logistics and natural resources.  Public service delivery is carried out through various line ministries, while the Omaheke Regional Council coordinates the planning and development of programme activities in the region. 

Most of the public offices in the region operate in Gobabis, although some are further decentralised at the grassroots level. Omaheke’s seven elected regional councillors are as follows.