Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
The Namibian Democratic Movement for Change (Namibian DMC) has come out firing, accusing the regional leadership of Omaheke of corruption and tribalism.
NMDC President, Frans Goagoseb, says it defied logic that Omaheke, a region that is the pillar of beef-production in the country, is the third poorest.
He says Omaheke was the richest region before independence but that after independence its socio-economic condition deteriorated badly due to mismanagement and the suppression of the poor.
“The regional leadership is preoccupied with tribal and divisive political issues. They do not have a clear development-oriented strategic plan and, above all, they do not ensure the full participation of the poor within the development process of the region”.
According to Goagoseb, Omaheke is being torn apart by corruption and tribal apartheid. He says his movement is at pains to pinpoint development programmes that have been implemented in each village and settlement in that region.
“Equally, how is Omaheke Region’s Strategic Vision if there is any co- aligned with the overall National Vision 2030, if there is even no popular participation of the traditional leadership in the development process which affects their constituencies”.
Goagoseb says development programmes intended for Omaheke are so politicized, and that such political manipulations can never ensure equitable development of the region. He says this state of affairs has created frustrated communities that yearn for full participation in their own development.
“It is high time that those in the leadership of the Omaheke Region realize that development demands absolute and durable democracy, and this requires that they should practise and implement the fundamental tenets of democracy” says Goagoseb in a statement.