EPEMBE – Residents of the Epembe constituency in the Ohangwena region are demanding better road infrastructure. 

They marched to the office of the Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya in Eenhana on Thursday.

“Bad leadership can kill people. Politicians should get serious”, this was the slogan that greeted Ohangwena governor Ndevashiya when he received a petition from protesters

The demonstrators demanded a tarred road from Oushake to Okankolo and a gravel road from Epembe to Omuhongo.

Epembe is a constituency in the Ohangwena region of northern Namibia. 

It had more than 14 800 inhabitants and 6 489 registered voters in 2020.

The angry crowd, residents of Epembe, in their petition, said there is a poor road network in the constituency that needs to be addressed as a matter of emergency.

Residents of Epembe, which is considered one of the most impoverished constituencies, took to the streets to voice dissatisfaction with the quality of service delivery.

They complained that Epembe is the most neglected village in the region, saying they are not being treated like other constituencies.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Stephanus Nepela, these communities of Epembe and the rest of the eastern part of the region are tired of being deprived of development for a very long time. 

“Chapter 3, article 10 of the Namibian Constitution gives equal rights to every citizen – and it is therefore unfair that the Ohangwena Regional Council is only favouring one side of the region,” said Nepela.

The villagers said patients referred to district hospitals from Omuhongo Health Centre on an emergency basis find it traumatising due to a lack of proper roads, and they find it difficult to access hospital services on time.

He added the message should also reach Ongwediva Roads Authority officials on how they become political tools since un-proclaimed roads are being constructed using proclaimed road numbers.

“This means that resources reserved for certain areas are being diverted to benefit only one certain ethnic group,” stated Nepela.

The demonstrators also want the Oshidute-Onduludiya-Omuhongo road proclaimed.

Ndevashiya, who received their petition, promised to forward it to the relevant authorities.

“All I can assure you is that we will take up this petition with all the relevant authorities – whether it’s the RA, transport ministry or the regional council,” said Ndevashiya.

- vkaapanda@nepc.com.na