We can’t reserve jobs for Kavango natives only – Wakudumo
Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo says the region cannot reserve jobs for members of its native tribes only, because there are people of other ethnic origins who are de facto residents of the region.
He dismissed the notion that leaders in the region were too cowardly to advocate for the prioritisation of native residents when it comes to employment opportunities.
Wakudumo made these remarks at a NamWater groundbreaking ceremony for a water treatment plant extension in Rundu yesterday.
The governor clarified the region's stance on local participation and employment opportunities. “When we talk about local participation, we are not only referring to native residents of the Kavango district. Today in Kavango, you have Damara, Oshiwambo, Chinese and Caprivi-speaking people,” he said.
Not tribalistic
Wakudumo addressed the widespread misunderstanding that the call for local employment implies favouritism towards native Kavango people. “When we discuss the need for our people to be considered for employment opportunities, many misunderstand this. They conclude that people in Kavango are tribalistic and only want employment for native Kavango people. This is not the case. That is why I deliberately mention all the other tribes who happen to be in Rundu. When we talk about local employment, it includes every resident in the Kavango East Region,” he said.
“These are the inhabitants of Kavango. They vote in this region, regardless of whether they migrated from other regions. Since they are now in the Kavango East Region, they are voters here, and they vote for the development of this region. When development occurs, they cannot just be spectators.”
He further urged contractors who are awarded tenders to employ people from the region.
“Some farmers who were employed here have been calling people from other regions to come and work here. As the representative of the central government, I will never allow that to continue. And I want the community to hear this. It is not that we leaders are not addressing this issue,” he said.
“We will ensure that the inhabitants of this region are employed in these contracts. Otherwise, mark my words, it will never be business as usual in the Kavango East Region. We are not cowards. We fought for this country. We were not cowards [then], [so] how can we be cowards today? Investors and contractors, we need to agree that our people will be included in these projects,” he said.
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He dismissed the notion that leaders in the region were too cowardly to advocate for the prioritisation of native residents when it comes to employment opportunities.
Wakudumo made these remarks at a NamWater groundbreaking ceremony for a water treatment plant extension in Rundu yesterday.
The governor clarified the region's stance on local participation and employment opportunities. “When we talk about local participation, we are not only referring to native residents of the Kavango district. Today in Kavango, you have Damara, Oshiwambo, Chinese and Caprivi-speaking people,” he said.
Not tribalistic
Wakudumo addressed the widespread misunderstanding that the call for local employment implies favouritism towards native Kavango people. “When we discuss the need for our people to be considered for employment opportunities, many misunderstand this. They conclude that people in Kavango are tribalistic and only want employment for native Kavango people. This is not the case. That is why I deliberately mention all the other tribes who happen to be in Rundu. When we talk about local employment, it includes every resident in the Kavango East Region,” he said.
“These are the inhabitants of Kavango. They vote in this region, regardless of whether they migrated from other regions. Since they are now in the Kavango East Region, they are voters here, and they vote for the development of this region. When development occurs, they cannot just be spectators.”
He further urged contractors who are awarded tenders to employ people from the region.
“Some farmers who were employed here have been calling people from other regions to come and work here. As the representative of the central government, I will never allow that to continue. And I want the community to hear this. It is not that we leaders are not addressing this issue,” he said.
“We will ensure that the inhabitants of this region are employed in these contracts. Otherwise, mark my words, it will never be business as usual in the Kavango East Region. We are not cowards. We fought for this country. We were not cowards [then], [so] how can we be cowards today? Investors and contractors, we need to agree that our people will be included in these projects,” he said.
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