By William J. Mbangula OSHAKATI Regional authorities of Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena are strengthening strategic ties with their South African counterparts through exchange visits and sharing technical know-how in environmental, land, trade and tourism development. Such cooperation has been boosted by the current visit of the executive member of the Limpopo Province Colin Chabane to Oshana, Ohangwena and Omusati regions. Governor of Oshana Clemens Kashuupulwa confirmed the visit by Chabane, with a technical team from the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism from the Limpopo Province, on March 31. Chabane, who will visit Oshana region’s key business areas such as Ondangwa Industrial Area, Northern Tannery, Eudafano Women Project and Ongwediva Trade Fair, will be accompanied by the South African High Commissioner to Namibia Timothy Maseko. In Omusati region the delegation is more interested in the Etunda Irrigation Scheme. According to the Director of Planning and Development in Omusati Regional Council Vilho Nghipondoka, when the delegation from Limpopo Province visited Omusati region almost a month ago, they were taken to various places and they were more impressed with the Etunda Irrigation project. “It seems they are more interested in the Etunda Project because they are currently buying land for their people and want to study the land utilisation at Etunda which they can possibly copy and implement in their own situation.” Nghipondoka noted. The Etunda Irrigation Scheme is one of the most successful Government-sponsored projects in the country, which has also allocated portions of land to individuals who grow a variety of agricultural crops of their choice. As part of empowering the local communities, the project is made up of many housing units and land portions where each family carries out agricultural activities for subsistence and commercial purposes. The delegation also made a turn in the Ohangwena region yesterday, where key places were visited such as the newly established Helao Nafidi Town Council, Omafo Steel Work, Fatima Plastic Manufacturing CC and the EPZ at Oshikango. The Director of Planning and Development in Ohangwena Regional Council Daniel Kashikola told New Era that the visit was the third to be conducted by a South African delegation. The High Commissioner did the first one. “We are trying to strengthen issues of common concerns between our two respective regions which have similar characteristics,” said Kashikola.