Okaku: Okaku Constituency councillor, Esther Fillemon, has outlined her priorities and long-term vision for the constituency, emphasising youth employment, food security and local economic development as key areas of focus. Fillemon told Nampa on Monday that her decision to enter local government was driven by a desire to offer practical solutions to persistent community challenges.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Fillemon stated, “I have always believed that real change begins at the local level, where leaders directly interact with the daily realities of the people. Contesting for the Okaku Constituency councillor position was driven by my desire to give practical solutions to persistent community challenges, to strengthen service delivery, and to ensure that the voices of ordinary residents are meaningfully represented in decision-making processes.”
She added that her decision to run for office was influenced by key community issues. “Several key issues influenced my decision, particularly high youth unemployment, food insecurity, and limited local economic opportunities. I also observed gaps in community participation and coordination of development initiatives. These challenges convinced me that decisive, people-centered leadership was required to unlock Okaku’s development potential,” added Fillemon.
Fillemon outlined her top three priorities for the constituency during her term, focusing on youth employment initiatives, food production, and the promotion of local produce market opportunities. “My top three priorities are youth employment initiatives, focusing on skills development, entrepreneurship support, and partnerships that create sustainable job opportunities; food production, strengthening household and community food security through improved agricultural support, climate-resilient practices, and access to inputs; facilitating local produce market opportunities, supporting the establishment of local markets to ensure that community members can sell their produce, stimulate the local economy, and retain value within the constituency,” she said.
Fillemon’s long-term vision for Okaku is to transform the constituency into a self-reliant, economically active, and food-secure community. “My long-term vision is to see Okaku become a self-reliant, economically active, and food-secure constituency. This includes sustainable infrastructure development, empowered youth and women, resilient agricultural systems, and a diversified local economy. I also aim to institutionalise strong community participation mechanisms that endure beyond my term,” Fillemon said.
Fillemon was sworn in on 05 December 2025 as the new councillor for Okaku Constituency.