Kavango West calls for boundary adjustments
Constituencies to be divided
Stakeholders in the region believe that splitting constituencies into smaller areas will bring services closer to the people and could help accelerate development.
The Kavango West Regional Council on Tuesday submitted a proposal to the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission to create additional constituencies and adjust boundaries within the region.
The proposed move is aimed at bringing services closer to the people to accelerate development in the region. The proposal includes dividing existing constituencies into smaller ones.
Planning director Nambara Egidius said while determining new boundaries and the creation of new constituencies, the council took into consideration the population size or vastness of existing constituencies, the number of eligible voters, the availability of infrastructure and their socioeconomic characteristics.
“The regional council, in collaboration with the office of the governor, undertook visits from 2 to 10 May to all constituencies for consultation on proposed demarcations. The overall views and inputs from all stakeholders and the general public expressed the greatest need for sub-dividing a number of constituencies, subject to the number of eligible voters. It is believed that creating additional constituencies will bring services closer to the people and in return could help accelerate development in the region,” he said.
“The data that we have provided sufficiently justifies the creation of additional proposed constituencies in the Kavango West Region. The plight of the inhabitants of the region and the need for the creation of additional constituencies supersedes the financial costs that Namibia as a country will incur in the interest of the development of her citizens,” Egidius said.
"Inequality and poverty endangers social harmony, peace and democracy."
Challenges
He also highlighted some of the challenges faced by the region such as insufficient development budget allocation and a lack of consultation from line ministries. Other issues include a lack of development in terms of roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water infrastructure and rural electrification, as well as a high unemployment and poverty rate, he said.
Egidius further highlighted a shortage of housing, poor cellphone network - with some villages having no network at all - as well as a lack of national documents.
On Tuesday, a number of residents voiced their agreement of the proposed changes. Frans Maboya said he believes that the council’s submission to the commission covers all concerns raised by residents in various constituencies. “Therefore, I am in full support of the submission.”
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The proposed move is aimed at bringing services closer to the people to accelerate development in the region. The proposal includes dividing existing constituencies into smaller ones.
Planning director Nambara Egidius said while determining new boundaries and the creation of new constituencies, the council took into consideration the population size or vastness of existing constituencies, the number of eligible voters, the availability of infrastructure and their socioeconomic characteristics.
“The regional council, in collaboration with the office of the governor, undertook visits from 2 to 10 May to all constituencies for consultation on proposed demarcations. The overall views and inputs from all stakeholders and the general public expressed the greatest need for sub-dividing a number of constituencies, subject to the number of eligible voters. It is believed that creating additional constituencies will bring services closer to the people and in return could help accelerate development in the region,” he said.
“The data that we have provided sufficiently justifies the creation of additional proposed constituencies in the Kavango West Region. The plight of the inhabitants of the region and the need for the creation of additional constituencies supersedes the financial costs that Namibia as a country will incur in the interest of the development of her citizens,” Egidius said.
"Inequality and poverty endangers social harmony, peace and democracy."
Challenges
He also highlighted some of the challenges faced by the region such as insufficient development budget allocation and a lack of consultation from line ministries. Other issues include a lack of development in terms of roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water infrastructure and rural electrification, as well as a high unemployment and poverty rate, he said.
Egidius further highlighted a shortage of housing, poor cellphone network - with some villages having no network at all - as well as a lack of national documents.
On Tuesday, a number of residents voiced their agreement of the proposed changes. Frans Maboya said he believes that the council’s submission to the commission covers all concerns raised by residents in various constituencies. “Therefore, I am in full support of the submission.”
[email protected]
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