GOBABIS – The management committee of the Omaheke Regional Council has directed council to earmark N$15 million from its value-added tax refunds from the Namibia Revenue Agency to development projects across all constituencies.
From the VAT refunds, each of the region’s seven constituencies will receive N$1.5 million to implement projects as identified by the respective constituencies.
The region’s seven constituencies are Aminuis, Epukiro, Gobabis, Kalahari, Okorukambe, Otjinene and Otjombinde.
“An amount of N$300 000 has been allocated to the Omaheke Regional Education Fund. The education fund was established through a motion tabled by councillor Augustinus Tebele in February 2023. It will aid students from the Omaheke region who are admitted to tertiary academic institutions with funding for registration.
“Funding for the education fund is solicited from donations, fundraising activities and the Governor’s Social Fund, among other sources,” said Omaheke’s chief regional officer Pecka Semba, who is responsible for administering the fund.
It was also resolved that an allocation of almost N$3.9 million be availed to supplement the council’s operational budget, including the acquisition of vehicles and water meters for the various settlements.
The council, in collaboration with its management committee, further endorsed the allocation of N$50 000 per constituency for the Seed Capital Fund launched in June 2023. This fund is aimed at aiding qualifying entrepreneurs and start-ups in the form of either capital or equipment aid.
Beneficiaries of this revolving fund will be expected to repay the funds over a set period to continue supporting future entrepreneurs and start-ups. Various corporates and individuals pledged over N$500 000 to the fund. It will be administered through a trust with a board providing oversight, and a financial institution to be appointed to handle the loan processes.
Last year, the region took a giant leap towards bolstering its rural electrification programme when it commissioned the electrification of over 426 houses in the various constituencies such as Kalahari, Okorukambe, Epukiro and Otjombinde.
The region’s rural electrification programme is being rolled out in collaboration with Central-North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored), and council continues to allocate more funding annually towards further rolling out the electrification programme.
To date, both the regional council and Cenored have invested close to N$10 million in electricity projects across the region.
In the Kalahari constituency, 88 households at Tsjaka and 95 houses at Drimiopsis will benefit from this initiative, while at Okorukambe, Omitara and Farm du Plessis, close to 150 houses will enjoy the electrification programme.
Through the continued roll-out of the programme, the village of Otjijere in the Epukiro constituency will have 40 houses electrified, while another 27 will receive electricity at Ohakavena.
In the Otjombinde constituency, the settlements of Tallismanus and Otjozohungu will each see 21 houses getting electricity.