2016-05-16Staff Report 2 Okakukaumbi The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, says regional councillors should listen to people‘s problems at the grass-roots level and communicate such problems to relevant authorities for possible government intervention. Shilunga was speaking at the village of Okakukaumbi in Oshikuku Constituency where she addressed the community members on Saturday afternoon. She encouraged community members to have constant communication with their leaders, advise them of their needs because Namibia is a democratic state, and believe in a participatory approach. In the same vein, she advised the community that running to government does not mean everything will be done at the same time. “As a nation, we prioritize in alignment with our budgetary provisions, with our national resources status as a determining factor. This means that we can only spend what our country can afford at a specific time,” she explained. She said although the constituency councillor Modestus Amutse briefed her of the needs pertaining to areas that need electrification, the focus of the Ministry of Mine and Energy is to ensure all schools, clinics and offices are connected to the natiuonal power grid. “This is to enable our children in rural areas to use computers and laboratories in order to stay well equipped with appropriate skills,” she said. Furthermore, Shilunga admitted that among the areas submitted by the councillor to be electrified, such as Osiingela and Epaya, that they are really of serious concern but they will look into the matter. She said people must be developed where they are in order to curb increased urban migration that should be a focus as a nation. 2016-05-16Staff Report 2
