What's the fuss all about? There is so much confusion regarding the construction of the planned referral hospital in the north. Despite the authorities agreeing that the project be built in the Oshana Region, there is still no consensus on the ideal location.
There are so many lingering questions concerning the project and members of the public have the right to bemoan the reigning confusion.
The project has also frustrated the northern local authorities particularly Ondangwa, which is set to lose out on this project.
Despite being recommended by the Oshana politicians as the ideal location for the referral hospital, a fresh twist emerged recently when regional governor Clemens Kashuupulwa argued against the resolution taken by the councillors, suggesting it was not legally binding.
The Ondangwa authorities have every reason to feel hard done by at the way the issue is being handled.
The town had earlier allocated land to the health ministry when it was initially identified for the construction of a district hospital.
These plans have since been shelved for a much bigger and a 1 000-bed facility, which will understandably be financed through a public-private partnership. After having identified Ondangwa as the preferred location for the district hospital, it clearly defies logic as to why a second town was invited to submit bids for the hospital construction.
To avoid unnecessary delays the authorities would have revisited the initial land offer from Ondangwa and reconsider for the referral hospital.
Ondangwa was in any case going to benefit from the district hospital spin-offs.
In addition, who has the power in determining the desirability of the project? As elected representatives of their various constituencies, councillors are there for the immediate and future interests of the citizenry.
They are also responsible for identifying the development needs of the communities they serve.
These councillors have unanimously chosen Ondangwa as the perfect location for the referral hospital and now their powers are being questioned.
All those involved must stop playing politics with development.
The time is running out and a decision must be made in the best interest of all stakeholders involved, otherwise we will continue to compromise on public healthcare.