Oshana prepares for more development

Oshana prepares for more development TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA

OSHAKATI

The Oshana Region hosted the State of Region Address in Oshakati last Friday to announce a number of plans including the construction of the Ondangwa District Hospital.

“The construction of the hospital is planned to commerce next year with an allocation of N$5 million during the 2022/2023 financial year,” Oshana governor Elia Irimari said.

The Ondangwa town council also plans to develop a sport stadium during the 2021/2022 financial year.

“I am pleased with the progress made by Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa towns in the provision of essential urban services. The current high demand for urban land solutions lies in mass land servicing and essential urban services infrastructure development. The local authorities are also developing recreational facilities for the youth in the region. The Oshakati town council has put aside N$700 000 for the construction of recreational park and sport ground in the current financial year. The ministry of home affairs is also implementing three capital projects in the region at a combined cost of N$28.28 million, including the construction of a holding cell block at Ongwediva police station,” he said.

Amongst other projects, the region has received a budget of N$2 million from the ministry of urban and rural development for the construction of services infrastructure at Eheke and Uukwangula settlements. A total of N$765 014.90 from the allocated budget was expended on cadastral surveying at the settlements.

Irimari added that a total of 241 permanent jobs and 1 174 temporary jobs were created during the 2020/2021 financial year “through the implementation of various economic activities in the region”.

Education

Meanwhile, in terms of education, N$59.5 million was allocated to the region through the ministry of education “to improve sanitation and hygiene through the construction of ablutions and hostels at various schools”. The budget was utilised to construct 40 ablution blocks at 40 schools at the cost of N$15.75 million, renovating eight hostels at the cost of N$15.88 million and the construction of hostels at Ondjandjo Senior Secondary School in Ompundja and Eluwa Resource School in Ongwediva.

“However, I have a concern with some education projects that were abandoned during the 2016/2017 financial year at different combined, primary and secondary schools in the region. We need to ensure that these projects are completed and therefore I am urging the ministry of education to follow up on these projects and fully implement the,” Irimari said.

Furthermore, from January to May, 150 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and 28 rape cases were reported in the region. “I am concerned with the high cases of sexual violence in the region. This is a very big disappointment to our nation and therefore we should not tolerate any form of violence against women and children in an independent country,” he said.

He also attributed the decline in economic growth due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its contribution to income inequality, poverty and high unemployment.

Limited infrastructure

“We also have limited water infrastructure for agricultural production and a slow pace of urban land delivery for housing and businesses properties development. In addition, limited access to business finance by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region has also contributed to financial difficulties to young people in this region,” the governor said.

“In order to address the housing backlog, the government should avail sufficient funds for compensation and land servicing at local authorities. The local authorities should also develop youth recreational parks and sports facilities. This will help with youth development and assist the region to attract world class sport championship,” he said.