By Tauno Iileka

The Omaheke Regional Council, during the last half of the year, embarked on a series of community engagement meetings around the region to discuss developmental matters.  The engagements provided community members a platform to share the challenges facing them and provide suggestions and inputs into solving them.

They also provided the newly-appointed Chief Regional Officer, Pecka Semba, as the administrative head and chief executive officer of the Regional Council, an opportunity to understand such challenges in order for him to execute his mandate efficiently.

“Once concluded, the Regional Council will map a way forward to incorporate suggestions from community members into developmental plans and priorities of the region and share such inputs with responsible parties for their consideration and provide feedback,” he added.

Common Issues

Semba indicated that some of the issues raised during the engagement, such as water shortages, are common across the region and require strategic planning and funding. The region, therefore, will need to develop a master plan in order to prioritise how they will be solved.

Increasing crime and violence, mainly caused by alcohol and drug abuse by the youth, were also commonly raised. Semba said this matter will be taken up with the Regional Commander of the Namibian Police, including the concern raised regarding a constant lack of transport for the police to attend to crime, especially in Farm du Plessis, Witvlei and Aminuis.

Also on youth matters, a suggestion was made for Farm du Plessis Youth Centre to be converted into a vocational training centre. Semba advised that the Regional Council will be able to better plan on how to utilize the youth centre once the Directorate of Youth is delegated to the Regional Council.

The youth of Witvlei suggested that they be provided computer literacy and first aid training. They also appealed for the community to be provided access to the youth centre in Witvlei, for the centre to be equipped with internet facilities and that the Regional Council to manage the centre.

Health and Education Matters

Other issues that require further engagement with stakeholders and feasibility studies include the establishment or upgrading of health facilities in either Farm du Plessis, Epukiro RC or Skoonheid, and in Epukiro Pos 3, Otjinene constituency and Tsjaka as well as provision of ambulance services.

A suggestion was also made that an oncology facility be established in the region to treat cancer patients locally instead of referring to Windhoek as cancer has become a common cause of death in the region.

A suggestion was made for the San language to be taught in school in the region. Semba explained that the Education Ministry has been trying to do that for years, but there is a lack of San language teachers. Nonetheless, attempts will continue to be made.

Other suggestions made pertaining to education include the establishment of a school for children with learning difficulties, the school curriculum at Gqaina Primary School to be extended to grade 10 to prevent dropouts at primary school level, and the establishment of a primary school in Epukiro Pos 3 to prevent children from travelling long distances to go to the nearest school. Semba indicated that for sschool to be established, feasibility studies should be conducted.

Access to Land

The community also raised concern regarding a lack of land available to provide erven to residents, particularly in Omitara and Buitepos. The Director of Planning and Development Services in the Regional Council, Karukirue Tjijenda said the land issue in these two settlements is high on the Council’s agenda. Attempts have been made and continue to be made to acquire additional land from nearby farm owners in order to expand the settlement boundaries.

Meanwhile, Skoonheid, Farm du Plessis and Blouberg communities raised several disputes emanating from group resettlement projects. Semba said the Regional Council will discuss all resettlement and land dispute matters with the Regional Lands Division, especially where allotment is concerned, and provide feedback to the community.

Some community members further claim that they have made numerous futile applications to be resettled, but to no avail. Semba advised that the resettlement programme is very competitive and that community members should remain resilient and continue applying.

Moreover, Semba indicated that modus operandi will be crafted to address a concern raised in Aminuis regarding unclear settlement boundaries in Aminuis which affects land allocation as the settlement office is objecting to land applications made at the traditional authority, claiming that such applications should be made to the settlement office.

Provision of State Services on Private Land – The Case of Epukiro RC

The Epukiro RC community raised a concern regarding a lack of government services in Epukiro RC, a dilemma seemingly caused by the fact that the area is on private land under the control of Itireleng Council. The community alleges that situation has previously led to the community losing out on funding for a community garden few years ago. Tjijenda, suggested that a governance agreement be entered into between the government and Itireleng Council to facilitate the provision of government services in Epukiro RC.

Food Security

The distribution of food relief by government, through different programmes, was another common issue raised. Chairperson of the Regional Council, Honourable Ignatius Kariseb, explained the different food relief programmes in the region, saying that they should not be confused. The drought relief programme benefits all vulnerable and affected people during a state of emergency due to drought.

The San feeding programme is only for the benefit of vulnerable San community members regardless of emergencies. The food-for-work programme benefits selected projects aimed at creating short-term employment opportunities for rural communities and in the process create, repair or maintain community infrastructure within the region. Finally, the food bank programme is a pilot programme in Gobabis aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger among the most vulnerable community members.

Community members, particularly in Epukiro RC, Epukiro Pos 3, Blouberg also appealed for gardens in the villages to be provided with water in order to promote food security among the communities.

Semba encouraged the constituency and settlement offices to constantly communicate with community members and vice-versa in order address administrative issues as they arise instead of waiting for issues to escalate.

These engagements also gave the Regional Council an opportunity to explain its mandate for community members to better understand development planning processes of government as well as Council programmes and projects.

The first phase of the engagements commenced in Gobabis on 05 September 2022, continued in Skoonheid, Epukiro RC, Farm du Plessis, Omitara, Witvlei, Epukiro Pos 3 and ended in Otjinene on 20 September 2022, while the second phase commenced in Blouberg on 21 November 2022 and continued in Buitepos, Tsjaka, Corridor 13, ending in Aminuis on 30 November 2022.

The engagements will continue next year in Otjombinde constituency.

Semba was joined by the Chairperson of the Regional Council, Hon. Ignatius Kariseb, Regional Councillors of the respective constituencies and senior staff members of the Regional Council and delegated functions. Over 700 community members attended the engagements.