Gobabis: Omaheke Region Governor Pijoo Nganate emphasized the critical importance of access to land, dignified housing, and proper sanitation for the region's development and well-being in his State of the Region Address delivered in Omaheke's capital, Gobabis, this week.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nganate announced the acquisition of four farms valued at over N.dollars 94 million for resettlement purposes, with nine beneficiaries already resettled at farms Fiesta and Wimsrus. Two additional units remain available for farmers in Corridors, Witvlei, Gobabis, and Tsjaka.

As part of the Omaheke Regional Council's vision, plans are underway to expand and upgrade the Buitepos settlement to town council level and establish a One Stop Border Post. An adjacent farm to Buitepos, measuring 8,000 hectares, has been purchased to support this initiative. The regional council also aims to elevate settlements such as Epukiro, Tallismanus, and Aminuis to town level, while Drimiopsis, Eiseb 10, and Benhur/Tsjaka are to become settlements.

Funds have been allocated for upgrading several informal areas and villages, including Onyanga, Otjijarua, and Otjiuaneho. Additionally, N.dollars 2.4 million has been set aside for the formalization of the Aminuis settlement. Nganate highlighted the completion of several houses in various constituencies through the Build Together Programme, with about 70 houses planned for Epukiro, Tallismanus, and Aminuis, some expected to be completed by October 2025.

Despite these efforts, the governor pointed out challenges such as illegal fencing in communal areas, low applications for occupational land rights, and lack of consultation among traditional authorities leading to disputes. Nganate proposed enforcing the Memorandum of Understanding among leaders for land allocation, implementing quarterly awareness campaigns on the Communal Land Reform Act, and forming joint committees to resolve land disputes.