The minister of Urban and Rural Development has authorised the N$93 million budget of the Oshikoto Regional Council for the 2022/2023 financial year.
According to the spokesperson of Oshikoto Petrus Nehale, the council budget was approved at the regional council’s meeting held in May this year and was subjected to authorisation by the ministry.
“Out of the overall budget of the council, the central government allocated N$20.9 million to fund both capital projects and rural development programmes,” he said.
Nehale added the funding includes N$16 million to be utilised for the construction of the second phase of the Guinas constituency and Tsintsabis settlement office in Tsintsabis, which is set to house both the constituency and settlement offices.
“The project forms part of the council’s strategy, to bring the government services closer to the people of Oshikoto region and ensure the council’s presence in all constituencies and settlements in the region,” he said.
In addition, an amount of N$2.3 million will be used for the construction of infrastructure of various services in Oshivelo, Onayena and Onyuulaye settlements respectively, while N$2.1 million is allocated for the provision of basic sanitation in rural communities.
Furthermore, N$423 000 is allocated to the rural development programmes and will be utilised for the construction of short water pipelines through the food/ cash for work programme, to provide potable water to communities and mitigate the challenges of water scarcity in the region.
He mentioned the council also made budgetary provision of approximately N$2.5 million, to support small-scale projects in the constituencies and settlements.
“The central government also subsidised the council’s operational budget with N$49 million, while the council is expected to generate an additional N$11.5 million as well to fund its operational budget,” he added.
Nehale indicated following the authorisation of the budget, the council will then fully embark on executing its budget in line with its annual work plan for the 2022/23 financial year, to ensure that all the planned activities for the year are implemented.