HARDAP governor Esme Isaack on Friday delivered her state of the region address, in which she focused on the region’s achievements and challenges.
Reading from her 33-page speech, Isaack reflected on progress made and the challenges the regional government faced, saying the region “is moving in a progressive direction”.
This was evidenced by the region continuously receiving delegated functions from the central government, despite the slow decentralisation process; the involvement of the majority of citizens in decision making concerning their livelihoods; the provision of services and fundamental commodities to rural communities; and the creation of opportunities for entrepreneurship for the betterment of the locals.
Isaack said millions of dollars had been pumped into schools’ infrastructural development, which resulted mainly in the renovation of hostels and the construction of additional classrooms.
Government had acquired land in the region for resettlement purposes during the 2016-17 financial year, and four out of the 17 families who had been resettled on this land, which was sub-divided into 17 farming units, hail from the Hardap region.
In addition, the governor said 175 land rights, 135 customary rights for residential purposes, and two leasehold rights were also issued during the 2016/2017 financial year.
Isaack thus urged the new farmers to diversify farming with the objective of ensuring food security.
According to her, government also acquired an additional 800 hectares adjacent to the Schlip settlement with the aim of expanding the settlement so that it qualifies for village status in the near future.
Her office has also granted a total of N$327 364 to fund micro projects in the region, and 19 964 bags of maize meal were distributed throughout the region as part of government’s drought relief food programme.
She also focused on land delivery, and reminded local and regional authorities of their responsibility to make land available to locals in view of the high demand.
Figures released by the governor show that Rehoboth had produced 144 serviced plots; Mariental 80, which are earmarked for social housing under the Shack Dwellers’ Federation; Maltahöhe 62; and Klein Aub 60.
The governor said the Gibeon village sold 15 hectares to First Capital for the construction of houses, and another 15 hectares to private investors for housing and commercial developments.
The governor said 128 toilets were under construction as part of the Harambee Prosperity Plan’s rural toilet project in the region. These are expected to be completed by the end of July.
Isaack furthermore highlighted the unavailability of serviced land, councils’ huge bulk water and electricity bills; the slow implementation of decentralisation; school drop-outs; and vendetta-driven fights among political office-bearers which stifle development, as challenges the region faces.
“We must at all times and in all respects avoid political and/or personal vendettas from negatively affecting development service delivery,” she warned.
The governor thus urged Hardap citizens to collectively redouble their efforts to tackle the challenges the region is facing.
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