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Slow budget approval blamed for regional underdevelopment

Home National Slow budget approval blamed for regional underdevelopment

Omuthiya

The lengthy process in authorising budgets has been identified as one of the issues delaying development in the regions, as it takes long before funds can be utilised.

This has greatly affected regional councils in terms of implementing their strategic plans on time as it normally takes several months before funds can be authorised by central government.

This is the view of Oshikoto Chief Regional Officer Frans Enkali, who said that projects are normally undertaken late due to lengthy authorisation processes following a decision on capital projects.

“The process is cumbersome, but they expect a miracle once you have received the money. However, they forget that once you undertake such projects you need to follow procedures such as doing consultations and once you have done that you have to send it to the ministry for approval and then you give requirements,” Enkali said.

“So all these procedures take long, thus everything becomes delayed before you see the actual execution of the project.”
He added that the fact that major projects have to be put on tender makes the delays even longer.

“So people should be aware that there are procedures that cannot be avoided otherwise you will be linked to some shady stories – it is really a long process. The community should understand and know this, instead of pointing fingers,” Enkali said in an interview.

He highlighted that one of the capital projects to be undertaken by the Oshikoto council is the installation of a trickling filter system for the sewage pond at Oniipa, which will filter the water that will be reused for gardening and animals.

Other notable developments are the construction of a community hall at Oshivelo, office expansion and staff accommodation in different constituencies.

Enkali said the developments would cost approximately N$14 million once completed.

“These projects were approved for the current financial year. The regional council is trying by all means to develop the region but the problem is the sparse population which is scattered, making it difficult to provide services to all communities,” stressed Enkali.