Development fund will address pressing issues - Endjala
Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala says that once implemented, the recently tabled regional and constituency development fund bill will fast-track development in communities.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Endjala said the fund will assist leaders in the region to address issues in communities at a much faster pace.
“It is really going to help us because the constituency development fund would really address the pressing issue in the communities,” Endjala said.
“Let me say, for instance, that you have a shortage of water and you need a borehole to be drilled. Currently, it's a lengthy process because you have to go through the ministry of agriculture and they depend on the availability of funds," he explained.
“While they are awaiting approval, the community is still suffering, but now with that fund, one can already plan their activities in advance, and then when the money is made available, they just allocate it to those activities.”
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni recently tabled the much-anticipated regional and constituency development fund bill, which has been in the works for a decade.
Long process
First tabled in February 2014, the fund is aimed at fast-tracking development activities at regional and constituency levels and addressing the issue of the marginalisation of some constituencies in terms of project funding.
Over the past 10 years, constituency councillors have criticised the line ministry for the snail pace of dealing with the bill.
Constituency councillors have been calling on government to fast-track the process of enacting the bill, which will allow them to use the resources from the fund to assist and develop their constituencies.
At the moment, parliamentarians are debating the bill in the August House before it is enacted as a law.
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In an interview with Namibian Sun, Endjala said the fund will assist leaders in the region to address issues in communities at a much faster pace.
“It is really going to help us because the constituency development fund would really address the pressing issue in the communities,” Endjala said.
“Let me say, for instance, that you have a shortage of water and you need a borehole to be drilled. Currently, it's a lengthy process because you have to go through the ministry of agriculture and they depend on the availability of funds," he explained.
“While they are awaiting approval, the community is still suffering, but now with that fund, one can already plan their activities in advance, and then when the money is made available, they just allocate it to those activities.”
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni recently tabled the much-anticipated regional and constituency development fund bill, which has been in the works for a decade.
Long process
First tabled in February 2014, the fund is aimed at fast-tracking development activities at regional and constituency levels and addressing the issue of the marginalisation of some constituencies in terms of project funding.
Over the past 10 years, constituency councillors have criticised the line ministry for the snail pace of dealing with the bill.
Constituency councillors have been calling on government to fast-track the process of enacting the bill, which will allow them to use the resources from the fund to assist and develop their constituencies.
At the moment, parliamentarians are debating the bill in the August House before it is enacted as a law.
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