Josephina Mwashindange
OMUTHIYA – The African Peer Review Mechanism (AFPRM) is conducting consultative meetings in Namibia’s 14 regions.
The consultations are mainly focusing on issues of effective governance and what institutions are doing to improve the livelihood of its people. Moreover, the delegation wants to find out what resources are at its disposal, what challenges are faced in delivering or performing tasks, and how the institutions deal with corruption.
“We are in Oshikoto because consultation is very important. When you want to help the people, it is good to consult them and listen to the problems that they are facing – and then you can see how best you can assist them. We would like to hear challenges facing different institutions in the region, and what changes they want to help improve the service delivery,” said ambassador Lineekela Mboti, the chief executive of Africa Peer Review Mechanism National Secretariat.
Mboti said, Namibia being a member of the organisation will benefit in terms of governance, because it will learn and emulate what successful countries are doing in different fields for instance education, health and agriculture.
In the same vein, participants were given an opportunity to briefly present about the services they offer to their people for effective and efficient good governance.
Oshikoto Regional Council highlighted the issue of decentralisation, stating that it hinders operations, especially when it comes to the budget, as some of the delegated functions are decentralised to the council; yet, their budget still lies or is controlled by their line ministries at the national level.
On issues of good governance, the regional councillors felt it was going to be good if they have constituency budget that can enable them carry out their duty effectively. “Our service delivery to our people is very limited due to the unavailability of funds. Sometimes, you find a community member coming to you with financial problems. You do not turn these people away, but you help him/her from your own salary,” said Gottfried Ndjendjela, Tsumeb constituency councillor.
Mboti further said, since the inception of the organisation, they have challenges of youth unemployment, where they compiled a report to the African Union; however, youth unemployment was not only a concern in Namibia but to other African countries as well.
“I would like to emphasise and encourage the youth of this country to be job creators instead of job seekers. Let us be proactive and ask ourselves what we can do for our country, instead of asking what the country can do for us,” urged Mboti.
The CEO of Oniipa town applauded the delegation, stating it was a very good platform for stakeholders to share ideas with respect to good governance.
“This exercise will be good if it put to good use especially if the stakeholders submit themselves to the exercise and provide the information in the common facts. I am urging fellow stakeholders to attend forums of such nature it is much in the interest of the people we serve. Opportunities like this helps us improve where we are failing,” said Jacob.
The delegation, including representatives from countries such as Tunisia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria are proceeding to Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions. The APRM was established in 2003 in Addis Ababa – and Namibia later became a member in 2017.
It has 56 African countries, with the aim to learn best practices from each other, whereby the heads of state from all the 56 African countries meet annually.