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Delimitation commission rejects new regions, proposes boundary adjustments and new constituencies

Namibians’ proposals to create new regions in the country have been rejected in favour of boundary adjustments and new constituencies.

The chairperson of the Delimitation and Demarcation Commission, acting judge Petrus Unengu, says this decision is based on the trend of other southern African countries to have fewer regions.

“First, passing against countries in southern Africa, as well as countries such as Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, which have bigger populations, yet fewer regions or provinces,” he said yesterday.

One proposal came from inhabitants of the Oshikoto region, who wanted the region to be split in two.

A similar submission came from traditional leaders who wanted the Ohangwena region split in two.

Residents of the Otjozondjupa region have proposed the same, New Era has reported.

They submitted that the two parts of the region be called Otjozondjupa North and Otjozondjupa South.

Other submissions made to the commission last year included Zambezi residents saying the boundary between the Zambezi and Kavango East regions should be moved back to the Mukuvi area to preserve peace.

The commission rejected these proposals, but did, however, recommend seven regional adjustments, 10 new constituencies and 61 constituency boundary adjustments.

The commission also recommended the renaming of two constituencies.

The commission’s report was presented to president Nangolo Mbumba at State House in Windhoek yesterday.

The finalisation of the commission’s report has been extended twice since the middle of last year.

Mbumba yesterday confirmed there would be no new regions, and therefore no additional governors.

Unengu, during the presentation of the report, explained the four criteria used to decide whether to delimit and demarcate boundaries.

“One: access to services in terms of businesses, residents must travel to access services; two: the cost of creating new regions and constituencies; three: the various socio-economic conditions in the country; and four: the number of eligible voters,” he said.

The size of the land in the concerned regions and constituencies is another consideration.

“So, in making our recommendations for the creation and demarcation of regional and constituency boundaries, the commission was mindful of the potential risks and attempts for effective segregation, which would threaten the hard-won peace and stability our nation enjoys today,” Unengu explained.

Ndumba J Kamwanyah

DO WE HAVE THE MONEY?

Political scientist Erika Thomas yesterday asked whether the commission’s recommendations would benefit residents or regional councillors.

“Is it because the constituency is too big for them to run, or is there no financial budget, which limits those councillors from operating how they should operate?” she asked.

Thomas said regional councillors currently do not work for their constituents.

“They don’t have that time, because they never brought service delivery there. There are no proper roads for those people. And number two, there are no water facilities, hospitals, schools, and so on,” she said.

Another political analyst, Ndumba Kamwanyah, yesterday agreed with the commission’s decision not to establish more regions.

“I think his statement suggests that the commission prioritised administrative efficiency over creating new regions,” he said.

Kamwanyah said Unengu’s comparison with countries like Nigeria and Zimbabwe, which have larger populations but fewer provinces, implies that Namibia does not necessarily need more regions to improve governance.

“Although Namibia’s vast and sparsely populated landscape might still require localised governance for effective service delivery. So, there is a need for a balancing approach,” he said.

Kamwanyah explained the impact of the proposed recommendations.

BETTER SERVICE DELIVERY

“The creation of 10 new constituencies means more representatives at the local level, potentially improving service delivery and bringing government closer to the people.

“However, this also means an increased financial burden on the state, as more officials, offices and resources would be required,” he said.

Kamwanyah said the seven regional boundary adjustments could affect administrative efficiency, access to services and even ethnic and political dynamics, depending on how they are redrawn.

14 REGIONS ONLY

After Unengu handed over the report, Mbumba commended the commission for considering the consequences of its recommendations.

“Where are the people getting money? Where are the services too far from the citizens? And they have done that. They also were very conscious of the number of citizens we have.

“Not to create institutions for the sake of appointing people to those positions. So no new governors to come. I’m sorry,” he said.
The president will submit the report to the Cabinet.

“The Cabinet is the final authority in decision-making in the country, not the president,” Mbumba said.

Fanuel Kaapama

DELAYED RECOMMENDATIONS

Commissioner Fanuel Kaapama yesterday said the two report extensions were due to councillors asking for additional time to consult their constituents on proposals.

Mbumba last year said the commission had three months to consult, consolidate and compile the report.

This was not possible, Kaapama said.

“We had to go back and forth requesting, receiving and analysing information from the stakeholders who were there today. So that whole process […] took us three months again,” he said.

EXPERIENCE

Kaapama said the commission opted for regional councils along with residents to submit their proposals to limit the influence of councillors.

“And we tried to engage the regional council in the presence of their own people and not behind doors.

“So, after that process of regional consultation was concluded, we stick to the commission and the stakeholders to arrive at decisions without the direct involvement and influence of the regional councils,” he said.

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