Zebaldt Ngaruka 

GOBABIS – The chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Council (ORC), Rocco Nguvauva, said the new council members will not start work from scratch, as the previous leadership laid solid foundations. 

In his address at the official opening ceremony of the ORC recently in Gobabis, Nguvauva said the new Council has inherited a legacy of progress.

“We will not start afresh but will build steadfastly from the existing milestones. We have seen improvements in access to basic services, the establishment of settlement areas, and collaborative efforts with central government and local and traditional authorities,” he said.

Nguvauva stated that significant strides have been made in infrastructure development, water provision, rural electrification, settlement upgrading, and community empowerment programmes.

“Continuity does not mean complacency, but it means strategic advancement,” said Nguvauva.

He complimented the previous leadership under long-serving chairperson Ignatius Kariseb and chief regional officer Peka Semba, adding that the new council will review and strengthen what works, innovate where needed, and accelerate delivery to meet the rising expectations of the region’s inhabitants.

“I, therefore, implore each one of you to raise the bar and deliver services with greater speed, efficiency and professionalism. I urged you to treat every resident, visitor and stakeholder with genuine respect, empathy, and courtesy that reflects the dignity of public office, and uphold the highest standards of customer care in our offices and in the field,” he said.

He also called on the members to exercise strict discipline over public funds, eliminate wasteful expenditure, and avoid unnecessary trips, duplicative purchases, and any form of misuse or extravagance.

“We look forward to the launching of this strategic plan, as this guiding document outlines our priorities for sustainable regional development, as aligned with national goals under Vision 2030, NDP6 and the Swapo Party manifesto and its implementation plan,” he said.

The strategic approach includes operational excellence, infrastructure development and socio-economic development. 

“We will do these to make sure that our work remains responsive to the needs on the ground,” he emphasised. 

Specific initiatives will include provision of basic services and bulk infrastructure, construction of houses, and upgrading and construction of service infrastructure such as water and sewer reticulation, roads, electricity, and dumping sites.

Also, he said rural electrification, drilling of boreholes, implementation of the Integrated Regional Land Use Plan, upgrading of growth points to settlements and settlements to local authorities, establishment of new townships in settlements, provision of basic rural sanitation facilities, empowerment of community projects, and capacity building of small and medium enterprises.

Nguvauva said that the region is celebrating the achievement of Epukiro Secondary School for their outstanding performance in the recent grade 12 examination after being ranked fourth countrywide and first in Omaheke. 

He also applauded the health sector and thanked the Gobabis Municipality for availing land for the construction of the new hospital. 

On to the agricultural sector, which is the region’s economic backbone, Nguvauva said the inhabitants must remain vigilant to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the neighbouring countries, including Botswana and South Africa, which pose a serious threat to the livestock industry and export market.

Although Namibia has so far remained free from the outbreak, he urged farmers, particularly alongside the border and in communal areas, to tighten biosecurity measures, report suspicious activity promptly, and adhere strictly to veterinary protocols. 

Nguvauva also commended the men and women in uniform, particularly the Namibian Police Force in the Omaheke region, for their tireless efforts in maintaining law and order.

He also condemned the recent killing of Prosecutor Justine Shiweda and called on the Ministry of Justice, Office of the Judiciary and Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security to prioritise and implement immediate robust measures to safeguard all prosecutors and judicial officers as a matter of national urgency.

– zngaruka@yahoo.com