Lissony Njembo
Bethuel Tjaveondja, the Okahandja constituency councillor, is a man on a serious mission to drive the constituency’s development agenda.
Now in his second term in office, Tjaveondja said becoming a councillor was a calling for him as he grew up within the Swapo leadership structures.
“I studied at the Swapo Party School, where I completed a certificate and later a diploma in political science,” said Tjaveondja.
Reflecting on his first five years in office, Tjaveondja said a secondary school from Grade 8 to Grade 12 has successfully been constructed in Smarties area, which caters for over 600 learners.
He further added that a police substation has also been established next to the clinic.
“As we are speaking, plans are underway to construct a primary school in Oshetu 3,” he said.
“With the assistance of the former governor, Beefcor was planning to lay off some of its workers, but we convinced them to renew their contracts. My office also played a critical role in the reinstatement of NamGem workers in the fight against unemployment,” he said. The councillor added that his office is focusing on National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) to support industrialisation.
The office plans to train young people and women to help reduce unemployment.
“We want to create entrepreneurs so that they can employ others,” he said. Tjaveondja also said efforts are underway to phase out combined schools.
“Currently, we have changed Eden Combined School into a primary school because we are prioritising the wellbeing of primary school learners, who should not be in the same environment as 17-year-old secondary school learners,” he explained.
He added that there are plans to convert KW Maree Combined School into a primary school soon and to build a secondary school in areas such as Veddersdal, Five Rand and Osona.
“It is really painful to see children from Five Rand walking over five kilometers to attend secondary school in Okahandja,” he said.
He further noted that his office has engaged the ministry of education to begin the project in the next financial year starting in April. The municipality has already availed a piece of land for the development of a secondary school in Five Rand.
“It will be a great achievement and great relief for learners that walk long distances to school if we complete that project,” he added.
Roads
Tjaveondja said roads in Okahandja are in urgent need of revamping.
Together with the Road Fund Administration, road rehabilitation will commence soon.
During this process, his office hopes to involve unemployed youth from Nau-Aib and Veddersdal in the project. Additionally, the town’s dumping site needs to be relocated because the area has now become residential.
However, the project is expected to cost over N$30 million.
Challenges
Tjaveondja raised concern about drug use among young learners.
“Okahandja is facing a serious challenge where learners from Grade 5 to Grade 7 are using and selling drugs,” he said. He also highlighted overcrowding between the soccer stadium and the old age home in Nau-Aib, where up to four families are living at one residential address, contributing to a high crime rate.
“Our mission is to relocate these families to serviced land in Ekunde so that they can have their own residential addresses and title deeds,” he said.
He added: “This requires serious intervention. We are planning to meet with the affected residents to plan the way forward.”
Tjaveondja then urged parents to play an active role in their children’s education by attending school meetings and monitoring their academic performance.
Furthermore, the sewage system in the town has been a problem because the system is 50 years old and needs serious attention.
He further added that residents are stealing copper wires and manhole covers that support the sewerage system to not overflow and selling them to scrap yards.
Tjaveondja said they will seek some agreement with the scrapyard owners so that they cannot buy such things, as they are useful for sanitation and reduce the stench by the manhole.
“Academically, Okahandja is underperforming. We need all three pillars of education – teachers, learners and parents – to work together to improve learners’ performance,” he said.
He also acknowledged the high unemployment rate in Okahandja and encouraged residents who can afford to pay rates and taxes to do so.
“This contributes to the development of the town,” he said.