Local government ‘needs to improve’

THE preliminary findings of a survey on people’s understanding and attitude to public participation and decentralisation in Erongo, indicate that most of those interviewed are not impressed with the performance of local government institutions.

This emerged during a feedback presentation done by the Namibia Development Trust at the Erongo Council (ERC) Meeting last Friday. Most of approximately 300 people living in Erongo interviewed during May and June indicated dissatisfaction with the degree of public participation in the region, as well as with the service providers such as the ERC and Local Authorities.These service providers, on the other hand, expressed the belief that the level of service they provide is excellent – because of decentralisation, a term, which 26 per cent of the community did not understand.A total of 42 per cent did however understand decentralisation as “bringing government and services closer to the people; and allowing local government to do its own work, and to empower the people”.With regards to the challenges that the regional council has to face, the biggest challenge in Erongo, according to the majority of those interviewed, is unemployment; while lack of infrastructural development and healthcare facilities were the second and third biggest challenges.According to 61 per cent of Erongo residents, nothing has been done by the authorities to address these challenges.Further, the report2 reveals that people living in Erongo have high expectations of their regional government service providers, which are sometimes unrealistic.Considering the pro-active involvement from the public’s side in issues related to development, the finger points back to the public who, they say, show poor participation.In fact, 72 per cent do not take part in any planning and decision making processes of the councils.The objective of the survey was to test people’s understanding of local governments such as the role of Municipalities and the Erongo Regional Council, and to attract the community’s expectations on public involvement and to suggest public participation mechanisms.The feedback report was given to all the councillors present at the feedback meeting.It is hoped it will lead to better communication between Government and the people, as well as participation into the affairs of LA and regional councils.Most of approximately 300 people living in Erongo interviewed during May and June indicated dissatisfaction with the degree of public participation in the region, as well as with the service providers such as the ERC and Local Authorities.These service providers, on the other hand, expressed the belief that the level of service they provide is excellent – because of decentralisation, a term, which 26 per cent of the community did not understand.A total of 42 per cent did however understand decentralisation as “bringing government and services closer to the people; and allowing local government to do its own work, and to empower the people”.With regards to the challenges that the regional council has to face, the biggest challenge in Erongo, according to the majority of those interviewed, is unemployment; while lack of infrastructural development and healthcare facilities were the second and third biggest challenges.According to 61 per cent of Erongo residents, nothing has been done by the authorities to address these challenges.Further, the report2 reveals that people living in Erongo have high expectations of their regional government service providers, which are sometimes unrealistic.Considering the pro-active involvement from the public’s side in issues related to development, the finger points back to the public who, they say, show poor participation.In fact, 72 per cent do not take part in any planning and decision making processes of the councils.The objective of the survey was to test people’s understanding of local governments such as the role of Municipalities and the Erongo Regional Council, and to attract the community’s expectations on public involvement and to suggest public participation mechanisms.The feedback report was given to all the councillors present at the feedback meeting.It is hoped it will lead to better communication between Government and the people, as well as participation into the affairs of LA and regional councils.